The kicker who never missed a game for fifteen years
In short: In an era of high-impact football, Jim Bakken achieved a feat of ironman durability that remains nearly unparalleled. From 1963 to 1978, he played every single regular-season game for the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming a cornerstone of scoring and reliability during the league's formative decades.
Jim Bakken’s career is defined by remarkable consistency. After being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1962 but failing to make the team, he joined the St. Louis Cardinals. There, he embarked on a 17-season tenure where he played 234 consecutive games between 1963 and 1978. This streak of availability is so significant that only Larry Fitzgerald has surpassed his total number of games played for the franchise.
Bakken was a pioneer of precision and volume. In 1967, he set a then-record by attempting nine field goals in a single game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, successfully converting seven. His scoring prowess was elite; he led the NFL in made field goals in both 1964 and 1967, and topped the league in total scoring in 1967 with 117 points. By the time of his retirement, his 1,380 career points ranked second in AFL/NFL history, trailing only George Blanda.
His legacy is cemented by unique accolades. Bakken was one of only 29 individuals ever named to two different NFL All-Decade teams (the 1960s and 1970s). He also served as the president of the National Football League Players Association in 1969, demonstrating leadership beyond his kicking duties. His status as the Cardinals' top point-scorer through 2025 reflects a professional life defined by constant participation on every play.
Bakken’s influence extended into academia and local sports after his playing days. He served as an athletic director at St. Louis University in 1985 and later worked in external relations for the University of Wisconsin's athletic department starting in 1990. His impact on the Big Ten was so profound that the conference co-named its best kicker trophy, the "Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year" award, in his honor in 2010.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jim Bakken
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