Highlighted Year: Hank Gillo, 1922

Fullback/Tailback, Racine Legion

 Age: 28 (Oct. 5)

3^rd season in pro football, 1^st with Legion

College: Colgate

Height: 5’10” Weight: 195

Prelude:

Gillo’s fine college career was interrupted by military service in World War I. He spent 1920 and ’21 with the Hammond Pros and also coached the club in ‘20. The power-running fullback called “Line-Plunging” Gillo signed with the Legion for 1922.

  

1922 Season Summary

Appeared in all 11 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Scoring

Rushing TDs – 5 [4]

Receiving TDs – 0

Other TDs – 0

Total TDs – 5 [5, tied with four others]

Field Goals – 6 [2, tied with Dutch Sternaman]

Extra Points – 4 [8, tied with Paddy Driscoll & Pete Henry]

Points – 52 [1]

Legion went 6-4-1 to finish sixth in the NFL.

Aftermath:

Gillo followed up with 44 points in 1923 and received first-team All-NFL honors from Collyers Eye. In 1924, Gillo had a successful 50-yard drop-kick for a field goal against the Milwaukee Badgers, the first of that length in pro football history, on his way to 48 points in his last year with Racine. Over the course of three seasons with the Legion, Gillo produced 10 TDs, 18 PATs, and 22 field goals (21 of which were drop-kicked) for a total of 144 points.  He played for the Milwaukee Badgers in 1925 and the Racine Tornadoes in 1926, which was his last season. He accounted for no more scoring after 1924.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Stephen Gostkowski, 2008

Placekicker, New England Patriots

Age: 24

3^rd season in pro football & with Patriots

College: Memphis

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 210

Prelude:

Gostkowski scored 367 points in college, including 70 field goals. He was selected by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft and was successful on 20 of 26 field goal attempts as a rookie as well as 43 of 44 PATs. Gostkowski followed up with 27 field goalsand a league-record 74 PATs without a miss on the way to scoring 137 points for the high-scoring Patriots in 2007.

2008 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 36 [1]

Most field goals, game – 4 at NY Jets 9/14, vs. Arizona 12/21

Field goal attempts – 40 [1, tied with David Akers]

Most field goal attempts, game – 4 at NY Jets 9/14, vs. Arizona 12/21

Field goal percentage – 90.0 [7]

PATs – 40 [11, tied with Rob Bironas, Ryan Longwell & Dan Carpenter]

PAT attempts – 40 [11, tied with four others]

Longest field goal – 50 yards at Seattle 12/7

Scoring

Field Goals – 36

PATs – 40

Points – 148 [1]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Patriots went 11-5 to finish second in the AFC East.  

Aftermath:

Gostkowski kicked 26 field goals in 2009 and was successful on just 10 of 13 attempts in a 2010 season in which he was sidelined for eight games by a thigh injury. He connected on 28 of 33 field goal tries in 2011 and was a perfect five-for-five in the postseason. Gostkowski once again led the NFL in scoring in 2012’13, ’14, and ’15, and also in field goals in 2013 with38 out of 41 attempts. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2013, ’14 , and ’15, the same year in which he received consensus first-team All-NFL honors.In 11 seasons thus far through 2016, all with New England, Gostkowski has made good on 303 of 348 field goal attempts (87.1%) and has added 548 PATs for a total of 1457 points. In the postseason he has added another 31 field goals out of 33 attempts and including 67 PATs has scored another 160 points. Gostkowski has received consensus first-team All-NFL recognition once and has received at least some first-team honors following three other seasons. He has also been selected to four Pro Bowls.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Lou Groza, 1946

Tackle/Placekicker, Cleveland Browns

Age: 22

1^st season in pro football

College: Ohio State

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 215

Prelude:

Groza saw little college action before going into the military during World War II, but Paul Brown signed him for the Browns of the new AAFC for 1946. In his first season, he was used primarily as a placekicker who backed up on the offensive line.

1946 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 13 [1]

Most field goals, game – 3 vs. Miami 9/6

Field goal attempts – 29 [1]

Field goal percentage – 44.8

PATs – 45 [1]

PAT attempts – 47 [1]

Longest field goal – 51 yards vs. Chicago 11/17

Scoring

Field Goals – 13

PATs – 45

Points – 84 [1]

Postseason: 1 G (AAFC Championship vs. New York)

Field goals – 0

Field goal attempts – 3

PATs – 2

PAT attempts – 2

Punts – 2

Yards – 80

Average – 40.0

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-AAFC: UPI

Browns went 12-2 to finish first in the AAFC Western Divisionwhile leading the league in total yards (4244), touchdowns (55), and scoring (423 points). Won AAFC Championship over New York Yankees (14-9).

Aftermath:

Groza became a starting tackle during the1947 season and excelled there, if not as visibly as he did with his kicking. With Cleveland joining the NFL in 1950, he led the league in field goals (13) and field goal percentage (68.4), kicked the game-winning field goal in the NFL title game, and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first of six straight seasons. He again led the league in field goals in 1952 (19) and ’53 (23) and was successful on 88.5 % of his attempts in the latter year. Groza receivedleague MVP recognition from TheSporting News in 1954when he led the NFL with16 field goals out of 24 attempts for a league-leading 66.7 percentage and along with 37 extra points ranked third in scoring  with 85 points. The best placekicker of his era, “The Toe” also continued to be an outstanding tackle. He was again a consensus first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 1955, led the NFL in field goals in 1957 (15) and was named to the Pro Bowl in ’57, ’58, and ’59 for a total of 9 in all. 1959 marked his last season as a tackle and he retired for a year in 1960 due to a back injury. He returned as strictly a placekicking specialist in 1961 and led the league in field goal pct. that year (69.6) and again in 1963 (65.2). He finally retired for good following the 1967 season at age 43 and after a total of 21 years (four in the AAFC, 17 in the NFL). At the time, he was the NFL career leader in games played (216), scoring (1349 points), field goals (234), and extra points (641). Adding in his AAFC totals, he played in 268 games, scored 1608 points, and kicked 264 field goals and 810 extra points. The Browns retired his #76 (which he wore for the last 15 years of his long career) and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1974.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Paddy Driscoll, 1926

Back, Chicago Bears

Age: 31

8^th season in pro football, 7^th in APFA/NFL & 1^st with Bears

College: Northwestern

Height: 5’11” Weight: 160

Prelude:

Driscoll played football and baseball in college, briefly spending time with the Chicago Cubs in 1917. While in the military during World War I, he was with the Great Lakes Naval Station team that won the 1919 Rose Bowl. Driscoll joined the Hammond Pros in 1919 and moved on to the Chicago Cardinals of the new American Professional Football Association (later renamed NFL) in ’20. Deceptively mild-mannered and small in stature, he was an outstanding all-around player who was an elusive halfback and kick returner, precision punter, and outstanding drop-kicker. In six seasons with the Cardinals (three of which he was also the coach), Driscoll scored 17 touchdowns and kicked 37 field goals, leading the league three times, and 31 PATs for a total of 244 points, topping the NFL with 78 in 1923. He received first-team All-NFL recognition after four of those seasons. Following the 1925 season, in which the team won the NFL title, the financially-strapped Cardinals sold Driscoll’s contract to the Bears.

1926 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

TDs – 6 [1, tied with Eddie Scharer]

Scoring

Rushing TDs – 4 [8, tied with Hap Moran, Tony Latone & Cully Lidberg]

Receiving TDs – 1 [12, tied with many others]

Other TDs – 1

Total TDs – 6 [7, tied with Hinkey Haines]

Field Goals – 12 [1]

Extra Points – 14 [3, tied with Pid Purdy]

Points – 86 [1]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: Collyers Eye, Chicago Tribune, Green Bay Press-Gazette

Bears went 12-1-3 to finish second in the NFL while leading the league in rushing touchdowns (17, tied with Frankford Yellow Jackets), pass receiving TDs (8, tied with Green Bay Packers), and scoring (216 points).

Aftermath:

Driscoll spent three more seasons with the Bears, scoring 43 points and again receiving consensus first-team All-NFL honors in 1927. Overall for his career, he scored 31 touchdowns and kicked 63 extra points and 51 field goals for a total of 402 points. Driscoll’s scoring total was the NFL record until 1942 and his field goal total the league standard until 1952, with his single-season record of 12 in 1926 not exceeded until 1950. Driscoll received at least some first-team All-NFL recognition after seven seasons and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1965. He later became a long-time assistant coach for the Bears and was head coach in 1956 and ’57.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Mike Cofer, 1988

Placekicker, San Francisco 49ers

Age: 24

2^nd season in pro football, 1^st with 49ers

College: North Carolina State

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

In college, Cofer connected on 50 of 68 field goal attempts (73.5 %), topping the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1984 (18) and ’86 (13), and 97 of 108 PATs (89.8 %) for a total of 247 points. Undrafted in 1987, he signed with the Cleveland Browns and barely lost out to Jeff Jaeger in the preseason. He was a replacement player with New Orleans during the season and then signed with the 49ers in 1988 and won the placekicking job in the preseason, impressing with his leg strength.

1988 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 27 [3, tied with Nick Lowery, 1^st in NFC]

Most field goals, game – 3 at Phoenix 11/6, vs. New Orleans 12/11, vs. LA Rams 12/18

Field goal attempts – 38 [1]

Most field goal attempts, game – 4 at NY Giants 9/11, at Seattle 9/25, at Atlanta 12/4

Field goal percentage – 71.1 [17]

PATs – 40 [7, tied with Chip Lohmiller]

PAT attempts – 41 [7, tied with Chip Lohmiller]

Longest field goal – 52 yards vs. Washington 11/21

Scoring

Field Goals – 27

PATs – 40

Points – 121 [2, 1^st in NFC]

Postseason: 3 G

Field goals – 2

Most field goals, game – 2 vs. Cincinnati, Super Bowl

Field goal attempts – 5

Most field goal attempts, game – 4 vs. Cincinnati, Super Bowl

PATs – 10

Most PATs, game – 4 vs. Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff; at Chicago, NFC Championship

PAT attempts – 11

Longest field goal – 41 yards vs. Cincinnati, Super Bowl

49ers went 10-6 to finish first in the NFC West while leading the conference in rushing yards (2523) and total yards (5900). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Minnesota Vikings (34-9), NFC Championship over Chicago Bears (28-3) & Super Bowl over Cincinnati Bengals (20-16).  

Aftermath:

Cofer followed up by connecting on 29 of 36 field goal attempts (80.6 %), with just one miss inside of 40 yards, and adding 49 PATs to lead the NFL with 136 points in 1989. He received first-team All-NFL recognition from the Associated Press and Newspaper Enterprise Association. Cofer spent a total of six years with the 49ers, with declining reliability, until being let go after the 1993 season. He joined the Colts in ’95 and, while he had a 52-yard game-winning field goal against the Jets, Cofer still lacked consistency and was released, ending his career. Overall, he was successful on 133 of 201 field goal attempts (66.2 %), with 128 of 191 coming with the 49ers. Cofer also booted 303 extra points and scored a total of 702 points (296 PATs and 673 points with San Francisco). He received first-team All-NFL honors once.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Steve Christie, 1998

Placekicker, Buffalo Bills

Age: 31 (Nov. 13)

9^th season in pro football, 7^th with Bills

College: William & Mary

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 185

Prelude:

A native of Canada, Christie was a highly-sought soccer prospect coming out of high school but was recruited by William & Mary to be a kicker. He set school records for field goals (57), field goal percentage (68.7), and points (279) and was also an accomplished punter. For his efforts, he was a three-time All-ECAC selection. Undrafted out of college, Christie joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1990 and was successful on 23 of 27 field goal attempts. He received first-team All-NFC honors from UPI and Pro Football Weekly. After a second season with the Bucs, he signed with the Bills as a free agent in 1992. Christie connected on 24 of 30 field goal attempts in 1992 and was 9-of-10 in his first postseason, which included the game-winning kick in the dramatic come-from-behind win over the Oilers in the Wild Card round and five in the AFC Championship against Miami. A lesser year in ’93 was followed by his career high for field goal percentage (85.7) in 1994 as he made good on 24 of 28 attempts and kicked a Super Bowl-record 54-yard field goal in the postseason. He remained consistent and in 1997 was 24-of-30 on field goals (80 %) and was successful all 21 of his extra point attempts.

1998 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 33 [3]

Most field goals, game – 4 vs. San Francisco 10/4, at NY Jets 11/8, at Cincinnati 12/6

Field goal attempts – 41 [1]

Most field goal attempts, game – 5 vs. San Francisco 10/4

Field goal percentage – 80.5 [16]

PATs – 41 [7, tied with Ryan Longwell & Todd Peterson]

PAT attempts – 41 [8, tied with Todd Peterson]

Longest field goal – 52 yards at Cincinnati 12/6

Scoring

Field Goals – 33

PATs – 41

Points – 140 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Wild Card playoff at Miami)

Field goals – 1

Field goal attempts – 1

PATs – 2

PAT attempts – 2

Longest field goal – 33 yards

Bills went 10-6 to finish third in the AFC East and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card. Lost AFC Wild Card playoff to Miami Dolphins (24-17).  

Aftermath:

Christie spent two more seasons with Buffalo for a total of nine before a preseason groin injury in 2001 led to his being placed on injured-reserve and then released. He departed the Bills having achieved franchise records with 234 field goals out of 299 attempts (78.3 %) and 309 extra points, with four misses, for a total of 1011 points. Christie joined the San Diego Chargers during the 2001season and stayed on for another two years before finishing his career with the Giants in 2004. Overall, Christie was successful on 336 of 431 field goal attempts (78.0 %) and 468 of 473 PATs for a total of 1476 points.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Matt Stover, 2000

Placekicker, Baltimore Ravens

Age: 32

11^th season in pro football, 10^th active & with Browns/Ravens

College: Louisiana Tech

Height: 5’11” Weight: 178

Prelude:

Stover was successful on 64 of 88 field goal attempts in college, his longest coming from 57 yards, and he also punted during his senior year with a 34.1-yard average. He was chosen by the New York Giants in the 12^th round of the 1990 NFL draft but, following a good preseason, spent the ’90 regular season on injured reserve due to a quadriceps pull. Stover joined the Cleveland Browns in 1991 and was steady in his first active pro season, hitting on 16 of 22 field goal attempts, including a 55-yarder that was the longest in the AFC that year, and 33 of 34 PATs. He also adapted well to the field conditions and winds at Municipal Stadium. It proved to be the first of five seasons with the Browns, who became the Baltimore Ravens in 1996, and Stover continued on with the renewed franchise. Along the way he made good on 26 of 28 field goal tries in 1994 for a NFL-leading 92.9 percentage, earning second-team All-AFC honors from UPI. Through 1999 he had scored 884 points on 202 field goals and 278 extra points.

2000 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 35 [1]

Most field goals, game – 5 at Jacksonville 10/8

Field goal attempts – 39 [1]

Most field goal attempts, game – 5 at Cleveland 10/1, at Jacksonville 10/8

Field goal percentage – 89.7 [6]

PATs – 30 [17, tied with John Hall]

PAT attempts – 30 [17, tied with John Hall]

Longest field goal – 51 yards at Washington 10/15, vs. Pittsburgh 10/29

Scoring

Field Goals – 35

PATs – 30

Points – 135 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Postseason: 4 G

Field goals – 6

Most field goals, game – 3 at Oakland, AFC Championship

Field goal attempts – 8

Most field goal attempts, game – 4 at Oakland, AFC Championship

PATs – 11

Most PATs, game – 4 vs. NY Giants, Super Bowl

PAT attempts – 11

Longest field goal – 47 yards vs. NY Giants, Super Bowl

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Ravens went 12-4 to finish second in the AFC Central and qualify for a Wild Card playoff slot. Won Wild Card playoff over Denver Broncos (21-3), AFC Divisional playoff over Tennessee Titans (24-10), AFC Championship over Oakland Raiders (16-3), and Super Bowl over New York Giants (34-7).   

Aftermath:

Stover, who was successful on 30 of 35 field goal attempts in 2001, continued on for another eight seasons with the Ravens through 2008. He departed as the franchise leader in field goals (354) and scoring (1464 points). Stover was signed by the Indianapolis Colts during the 2009 season due to an injury to PK Adam Vinatieri and, in ten games, was successful on 9 of 11 field goal attempts and all 33 PATs and finished up his 19-season career with a Super Bowl appearance. Overall, Stover kicked 471 field goals out of 563 attempts (83.7 %), which ranked fourth in NFL history at the time, and 591 extra points, with just three misses, for a total of 2004 points, also the fourth highest league total up to that point. He added another 25 field goals, out of 31 tries, and 31 PATs in 16 playoff games. Stover received first-team All-NFL recognition once and was chosen to one Pro Bowl.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Tony Franklin, 1986

Placekicker, New England Patriots

Age: 30 (Nov. 18)

8^th season in pro football, 3^rd with Patriots

College: Texas A & M

Height: 5’8”   Weight: 182

Prelude:

The barefoot-kicking Franklin booted 44 field goals out of 73 attempts (60.3 %) in college and had two of over 60 yards in a game against Baylor in 1976. The Philadelphia Eagles, having endured significant problems with placekicking in 1978, selected him in the third round of the ’79 NFL draft. He had an outstanding rookie season, hitting on 23 of his 31 field goal attempts, including a team-record 59-yard kick at Dallas, and all 36 of his PATs. However, he clashed with Head Coach Dick Vermeil and, following a lesser year in 1980, withstood a challenge in ’81. He bounced back with 20 field goals out of 31 attempts. After two more seasons in Philadelphia, Franklin was traded to the Patriots in 1984. He had his two best years from a field goal percentage standpoint, hitting on 22 of 28 attempts in ’84 (78.6 %) and 24 of 30 in 1985 (80.0 %) when the club won the AFC Championship.

1986 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 32 [1]

Most field goals, game – 4 vs. Indianapolis 9/7, vs. Atlanta 11/2

Field goal attempts – 41 [1, tied with Kevin Butler]

Most field goal attempts, game – 4 vs. Indianapolis 9/7, at Buffalo 10/26, vs. Atlanta 11/2

Field goal percentage – 78.0 [5]

PATs – 44 [3, tied with Pat Leahy, Chuck Nelson & Rich Karlis]

PAT attempts – 45 [4, tied with Rich Karlis]

Longest field goal – 49 yards vs. Indianapolis 9/7

Scoring

Field Goals – 32

PATs – 44

Points – 140 [1]

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff at Denver)

Field goals – 1

Field goal attempts – 1

PATs – 2

PAT attempts – 2

Longest field goal – 38 yards

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

1^st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Patriots went 11-5 to finish first in the AFC East while ranking second in the NFL in scoring (412 points). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Denver Broncos (22-17).  

Aftermath:

Franklin’s performance dropped off significantly in 1987, as he made good on just 15 of 26 field goal attempts (57.7 %), and his career ended with Miami in ’88. Overall, Franklin kicked 177 field goals out of 264 attempts (67.0%) and added 341 PATs with 14 misses for a total of 872 points. Of those totals, 93 of 125 field goal tries (74.4 %), 163 extra points, and 442 points came with the Patriots, where he had his best seasons. In the postseason, he was 16 of 22 on field goals and made all 27 of his extra point attempts. Franklin received first-team all-conference honors once, second-team recognition after one other season, and was selected to one Pro Bowl.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Cary Blanchard, 1996

Placekicker, Indianapolis Colts

Age:  28 (Nov. 5)

4^th season in pro football, 2^nd with Colts

College: Oklahoma State

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 227

Prelude:

Blanchard scored 312 points in college, where he handled both placekicking and punting, and set a NCAA season record with 67 consecutive extra points in 1988. Undrafted in 1991, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys but was cut prior to the season. Blanchard spent the spring of ’92 with the Sacramento Surge of the WLAF, connecting on 5 of 8 field goal attempts and all 17 of his PATs, and then caught on with New Orleans in the NFL, when he was on the practice squad for two games and activated for one due to concerns over an injury to star PK Morten Andersen, but the Saints waived him and he was picked up by the New York Jets. In two years with the Jets, he kicked 33 field goals out of 48 attempts (68.8 %) and made good on all 48 of his tries for extra points. However, the arrival of veteran Nick Lowery led to his being let go by the Jets in 1994 and, while he signed with Minnesota, was waived by the Vikings during the preseason. Blanchard joined the Colts six games into the 1995 season, replacing Mike Cofer, and made 19 of 24 field goal attempts plus 25 PATs, and displayed improved leg strength.

1996 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 36 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Most field goals, game – 4 at Dallas 9/15, vs. San Diego 11/3, vs. NY Jets 11/17

Field goal attempts – 40 [2]

Most field goal attempts, game – 4 on five occasions

Field goal percentage – 90.0 [1]

PATs – 27

PAT attempts – 27

Longest field goal – 52 yards at Dallas 9/15

Scoring

Field Goals – 36

PATs – 27

Points – 135 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Wild Card playoff at Pittsburgh)

Field goals – 0

Field goal attempts – 0

PATs – 2

PAT attempts – 2

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Colts went 9-7 to finish third in the AFC East but qualified for a Wild Card spot in the postseason. Lost Wild Card playoff to Pittsburgh Steelers (42-14).  

Aftermath:

Blanchard spent one more season with the Colts in 1997, but faltered as he connected on 32 of a league-high 41 field goal attempts that included some critical misses. He lost out to Mike Vanderjagt in the ’98 preseason and saw action that year with Washington, moving on to stints with the Giants and Cardinals before his career ended in 2000. Overall, Blanchard was successful on 165 of 214 field goal attempts (77.1 %) and added 188 extra points with just two misses to score a total of 683 points. His best seasons were with the Colts, where he was 87-of-105 on field goals (82.9 %) and made all 73 of his PATs.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: John Kasay, 1996

Placekicker, Carolina Panthers

Age:  27 (Oct. 27)

6^th season in pro football, 2^nd with Panthers

College: Georgia

Height: 5’10” Weight: 198

Prelude:

The left-footed Kasay, son of a former Georgia player and long-time assistant coach of the same name, kicked 46 field goals out of 65 attempts (70.8 %) and added 79 PATs for a total of 217 points in college. He was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL draft and spent four seasons with them, hitting on 82 of 105 field goal attempts (78.1 %), including a high of 25 in his rookie year and making 20 of 24 in 1994, his final year with the club. He also booted 95 extra points and scored 341 points. Kasay signed as a free agent with the expansion Panthers in 1995 and was successful on 26 of 33 field goal attempts plus 27 of 28 extra point tries.

1996 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 37 [1]

Most field goals, game – 5 vs. Atlanta 9/1, at New Orleans 9/8

Field goal attempts – 45 [1]

Most field goal attempts, game – 5 vs. Atlanta 9/1, at New Orleans 9/8, vs. New Orleans 10/20, at San Francisco 12/8

Field goal percentage – 82.2 [14]

PATs – 34 [13, tied with Matt Stover & Pete Stoyanovich]

PAT attempts – 35 [12, tied with Al Del Greco & Matt Stover]

Longest field goal – 53 yards vs. Atlanta 9/1

Punting

Punts – 1

Yards – 30

Scoring

Field Goals – 37

PATs – 34

Points – 145 [1]

Postseason: 2 G

Field goals – 6

Most field goals, game – 4 vs. Dallas, NFC Divisional playoff

Field goal attempts – 6

Most field goal attempts, game – 4 vs. Dallas, NFC Divisional playoff

PATs – 3

Most PATs, game – 2 vs. Dallas, NFC Divisional playoff

PAT attempts – 3

Longest field goal – 40 yards (twice) vs. Dallas, NFC Divisional playoff

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

1^st team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Panthers went 12-4 to finish first in the NFC West. Won NFC Divisional playoff over Dallas Cowboys (26-17). Lost NFC Championship to Green Bay Packers (30-13).   

Aftermath:

Kasay went on to spend 15 seasons with the Panthers, through 2010, and was the last remaining player from the club’s inaugural season. Although he missed all but two games due to a leg injury in 2002, he bounced back to connect on 32 of 38 field goal attempts (84.2 %) in the NFC Championship year of ’03 and remained consistent thereafter. Overall, with Carolina he kicked 351 field goals out of 424 attempts (82.8 %) and, adding 429 PATs (with a string of 157 straight that ended in 2008), scored 1482 points, all of which are franchise records. Kasay was signed by New Orleans just prior to the 2011 season due to an injury to Garrett Hartley and booted 28 field goals and 63 extra points on his way to a career-high 147 points in his last year at age 42. For his NFL career, Kasay accumulated 461 field goals, 598 PATs, and scored 1970 points, which ranked eighth in league history at the time of his retirement. His Pro Bowl selection in 1996 was the only one of his career. 

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970