On November 8, 1970, Tom Dempsey, the kicker for the New Orleans Saints lined up to kick a 63 yard field game with two seconds left against the Detroit Lions. When the kick sailed true, it established a new record for the longest field goal kicked in NFL history. The kicker, Dempsey was immediately criticized by some sports insiders because of the shoe that he wore. As an infant, Dempsey was born without fingers on his right hand or toes on his right foot. In accordance with his physical situation, the kicker wore a blunt shoe on his right foot which was also his kicking foot. In 1977, the NFL enacted a new rule that required all kickers to wear shoes that confirm to that of a “normal” shoe. This rule would become known as the “Tom Dempsey Rule”.
On October 25, 1998, just short of 28 years after Dempsey’s kick, Denver Broncos kicker Jason Elam matched the record. His kick, also a 63 yarder, came at the end of the first half of a game at Mile High Stadium versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his career, Elam was known for his ability to kick long field goals and his accuracy. Upon his retirement, Elam was sixth all-time in scoring, including 16 straight seasons of 100 or more points. Elam, also, scored in 263 straight games the second most all-time. His 29 kicks of 50 yards or more place him just six behind the all-time leader in that category.
History repeated itself one final time, for now, on September 12, 2011 when Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 63 yard field goal against, ironically, the Denver Broncos. Janikowski’s kick also occurred in Denver at the end of the first half of the game. To make this kick a little more difficult, the playing surface had been drenched from rain that intermittingly fell throughout the start of the game. In his career, Janikowski has shown a propensity to make the big and/or long kick after being only the third kicker ever drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. Previously in his career, the powerful kicker has lined up for both a 64 yarder and a 76 yarder, although he missed both attempts. Janikowski has been successful from 59 yards and 61 yards in the past as he marched toward becoming the all-time leading scorer in Raiders history.
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