Jan Stenerud--1972
While Pete Gogolak was generally
touted as the maverick who brought
soccer-style kicking to the NFL, Jan
Stenerud was the first to master it.
Stenerud would step off the campus
of Montana State University to kick
19 years in the AFL and NFL. The
native Norwegian hit on 66.8% of his
field goal attempts during his career;
compared to 58.8% for Gogolak.
Kicking primarily for the Kansas City
Chiefs, and later for Green Bay and
Minnesota; Stenerud would set the
record for most field goals (though
he presently ranks 9th on the all-time
list) in a career with 373. He was
elected to the Pro Football Hall of
Fame in 1991; the first "pure"
placekicker to be enshrined.
Not a bad career for a guy who came
over to the States on a ski jumping
scholarship.
(11/30/08)
touted as the maverick who brought
soccer-style kicking to the NFL, Jan
Stenerud was the first to master it.
Stenerud would step off the campus
of Montana State University to kick
19 years in the AFL and NFL. The
native Norwegian hit on 66.8% of his
field goal attempts during his career;
compared to 58.8% for Gogolak.
Kicking primarily for the Kansas City
Chiefs, and later for Green Bay and
Minnesota; Stenerud would set the
record for most field goals (though
he presently ranks 9th on the all-time
list) in a career with 373. He was
elected to the Pro Football Hall of
Fame in 1991; the first "pure"
placekicker to be enshrined.
Not a bad career for a guy who came
over to the States on a ski jumping
scholarship.
(11/30/08)
