One of the most memorable moments in NFL history occurred on Nov. 8, 1970 when the Detroit Lions were playing the New Orleans Saints on the road; when disco was still years away from birth and adjusting a television picture meant aiming the set of rabbit ears towards the nearest window.
Like most other Sundays in the fall our household in Detroit was huddled around the living room viewing the game on our black and white television set. The Lions were leading 17-16 and had the Saints backed up “out of field goal range” with just a few ticks left on the clock.
This game was a lock. How could it not be, it was the final play and the Saints were electing to attempt a 63-yard potential game-winning kick.
As far as Lions fans were concerned, matters were even bleaker for New Orleans since the man lining up to kick had a congenital physical defect, was born without a foot and actually playing the game with a special shoe designed to cover an artificial stump.
Assuming the game was more than over I barely kept one eye on the set. The ball was snapped and the kicker went through his motions. Like a slow motion shot in a film, the ball sailed through the air, carrying further then even further until it found its way through the uprights.
I learned a few new words that day from the adults in the room as the Lions defenders stood hands on their hips in shock as Tom Dempsey and his Saints celebrated the longest kick in the history of the NFL and their 19-17 win iin front of their hometown fans.
Lions defensive lineman Alex Karras whose wrestling career included a bout against Dick “The Bruiser” and whose film career later included knocking out a horse in the movie “Blazing Saddles” was interviewed the week following the kick. In that interview, Karras admitted he didn’t really try to rush hard assuming the 63-yard boot wouldn’t come close.
Well it did and Dempsey was, and still is, the record holder for connecting on the longest kick in NFL history. Interesting how that record still stands after all these years, although it was tied by Jason Elam in a game on Oct. 25, 1998 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In a recent interview with the Times-Picayune Dempsey said he was “surprised [the record still stands] because you have to look at the NFL. There are so many great players. Kickers have gotten better through the years.”
Dempsey went on to say he was proud of the record and believes some day it will be broken.
Yes it may, but the memory you created for those of us who witnessed the kick will never be forgotten.
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