Way back in November, 1970, some place-kicker with half a foot named Tom Dempsey trotted on to the field for the New Orleans to attempt a ridiculously long field against the Detroit Lions. No way was he ever going to make it, but with only 2 seconds left in the game, and the Saints trailing by 2 points -- what did they have to lose? It was later said the Lions were chuckling -- even after the kick was away. Yuk yuk yuk. Right up until it went through the uprights and then it wasn't so funny anymore. A 63 yard field goal, by far the longest in NFL history at that time.
Since then, almost 43 years later, a few have equalled Dempsey's mark, but it is yet to be surpassed. Back in Dempsey's day, soccer-style kickers were still a rarity. Yet over the years, soccer-style kickers have proven to be so superior in length and accuracy, that every single team in the NFL, and I dare say the vast majority of college and even high school football teams currently have soccer-style place kickers. Straight-on place kickers became extinct quite a while back.
But it seems odd that after all the years since Dempsey's feat (no pun intended) no other kicker has broken the record. Not even by a single yard.
There are likely a few reasons for this. First, unlike the old days, when a missed field goal try was spotted at the 20 yard line of the opposition, nowadays the other team will take over at the same line of scrimmage where the missed field goal originated from. This could be a difference of 30+ yards. Field position is important. Give the other team the ball somewhere close to midfield, and they're only a decent play or two away from being in field goal position themselves. Better to send in the punter and have him try to pin the other team deep in their own end of the field. Barring a huge play, they have to grind it out for a while to get down field, and anything can happen in the meantime. A fumble, an interception, who knows?
Other things work against such long field goal attempts. If a team is winning in a blow-out, where field position didn't matter anymore, to attempt such a field goal would certainly be perceived as rubbing it in. Make it or miss it, it would cause a lot of hard feelings, and they'd be crucified in the press, perhaps rightfully so.
No, the situation has to be just right for such a thing to happen, and it doesn't come around often. Chances are, it would have to be in the waning seconds of the first half or, like Dempsey, as the clock was expiring in the fourth quarter of a close game where the field goal could make the difference.
There have certainly been kickers around that were capable of breaking the record. Jason Elam, formerly of the Denver Broncos tied Dempsey's record. As did Sebastian Janikowski, still with the Oakland Raiders, who has long since been known as having a "monster" leg. But they never seemed to be in the right spot at the right time to make history. There are likely others. The Detroit Lions have a 28 year-old Norwegian place-kicker named Havard Rugland, AKA "kickalicious", trying out for their team who appears to effortlessly kick balls through the uprights that would be good from well over 60 yards. But it looks like they're going to dump him in favor of 38 year-old journeyman David Akers. BTW, Akers also shares the record, but 38 when a 28 year-old equal or better boomer is available, likely for a lot less money to boot? C'mon. But hey, it's the Lions. They do things like that.
Nevertheless, here's a name you might want to remember -- Greg Zuerlein. Never heard of him? Me neither until earlier tonight. He's a place kicker for the St. Louis Rams. In a game against the Denver Broncos, Zuerlein did something very impressive. With only a couple seconds remaining in the first half, he booted a 58 yard field. Sure, that's still 5 yards short of the record, but it was at the top of the uprights as it sailed through and smacked the net behind. It looked like it might have been good from 70 yards. Yes, it was only an exhibition game and wouldn't have counted as an official record anyway -- but this guy's got some kind of leg going on. Put him in the right situation at the right time, and..... who knows?
And I don't want to hear about the thin atmosphere associated with Denver's "Mile High" stadium, whereby such kicks travel so much farther. Baloney. It's not like it's outer space, no gravity, and all that. If the air was THAT thin, the players would be dropping like flies from oxygen deprivation. You've never seen that happen. If a kicker has a serious wind at his back in an open-air stadium -- that would make a big difference. But thin air? Get outta here. That's always been a bunch of hooey.
At any rate, remember the name Greg Zuerlein. He's certainly got the capability of breaking the record. I, for one, would love to see him in just the right spot at the right time, for such a chance.
Could happen.
Ya never know.
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