19 seasons and 373 field goals:
Jan Stenerud was born in Fetsund, Norway. He was recruited to the United States in 1962 by Montana State University’s ski coach and was an All-American in skiing in 1964. The following year in his first season on Montana State’s football team, the former ski jumper kicked a record 59-yard field goal and became an All-American in football.
Jan Stenerud was the first pure placekicker inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The 6-2, 187-pound Stenerud excelled for 19 seasons and 263 games in pro football. He never missed a game because of injury or illness. He kicked for the Chiefs for 13 years from 1967 until 1979. In the Chief’s upset victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV, Stenerud kicked three first-half field goals. He was released in the summer of 1980. Three months later, he signed a free-agent contract with the Green Bay Packers, with whom he stayed with for four seasons.
In 1984, the Packers traded Stenerud to the Minnesota Vikings for a seventh-round draft choice. Retiring after 19 season in 1985, he held the NFL record for most career field goals — a record that stood 13 years.
His 373 career field goals and seven seasons of scoring 100 or more points were also NFL records. He kicked 17 field goals over 50 yards, and his personal best was a 55-yarder against Denver in 1970.
Stenerud played in six Pro Bowls, the last one at age 42. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991 and is still the only pure place kicker in the Hall. Stenerud was also named to the NFL’s All-Time Team.
