The kicker who achieved perfection, then lost it all in one moment
In short: In 1998, Gary Anderson became the first NFL kicker to complete a regular season with a 100% success rate. He was flawless on every field goal and extra point, a statistical anomaly until a single postseason miss changed everything.
Gary Anderson's 1998 season with the Minnesota Vikings remains a landmark in NFL history. He converted all 35 of his field goal attempts and all 59 extra points during the regular season, achieving a perfect success rate. This feat cemented his reputation as one of the most reliable specialists in the league, a career that eventually spanned 23 seasons and saw him become the NFL's all-time leading scorer in 2000, surpassing the legendary George Blanda. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1982 but joined the Pittsburgh Steelers shortly after. His professional journey eventually included stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Tennessee Titans.
However, the perfection ended abruptly during the 1998 NFC Championship Game. Facing the Atlanta Falcons, Anderson missed a critical 38-yard field goal. The miss proved decisive; the Falcons won the game in overtime, advancing to Super Bowl XXXIII. In a striking coincidence, Morten Andersen—a contemporary with a nearly identical name and career trajectory—successfully converted a 38-yard field goal to win that same game. This heartbreaking miss occurred during a high-stakes postseason clash. It remains a defining moment in his storied career.
Anderson's career was defined by remarkable longevity and consistency. Born in South Africa, he arrived in the United States as a teenager and transitioned from rugby and soccer to American football. He received four Pro Bowl selections and was included on the NFL's second All-Decade squads for the 1980s and 1990s. Even as the league evolved, Anderson remained a constant, retiring in 2004 as the last active player born in the 1950s and the last player to have played under Steelers coach Chuck Noll. He grew up in Durban after being born in Parys. His father was a professional soccer player in England.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Gary Anderson (placekicker)
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