Jan Stenerud – Kansas City Chiefs
The American-Norwegian sensation primarily adorned the Kansas City Chiefs jersey for the lion’s share of his illustrious career. However, after a dozen seasons, he embarked on a brief stint with the Green Bay Packers before donning the Minnesota Vikings’ colors for a single season, ultimately bidding farewell to the football field. Stenerud’s claim to fame rested on his pioneering role as one of the NFL’s early dedicated kickers and a trailblazer in introducing innovative techniques.
He kicked off his career on a high note, boasting an impressive 70% success rate, a staggering 20% higher than his kicking peers in the NFL. The burning question, though, centers on his 1991 induction into Canton’s Hall of Fame – did he truly earn that honor? Stenerud joins an elite club of just five kicking specialists who have received this prestigious accolade. While his longest field goal, a 55-yarder, is undoubtedly impressive, it falls shy of the current record by a mere 11 yards.