For many NFL fans, it’s hard to justify putting a place kicker into the NFL Hall of Fame. With so many deserving stars of the game still starving for enshrinement, surely a special teams player shouldn’t top the list. After exploring his direct impact on wins and losses from week to week, as well as retiring as the all-time NFL scoring leader, Morten Andersen is now deservedly immortalized in Canton.
Morten Andersen a Deserving Hall of Fame Inductee
While fans of the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings could all tell you how valuable a player Andersen was, the real proof is in the numbers. Here is a look at some significant numbers in his illustrious career.
2,544 – The number of points Andersen accumulated during his career (Most ever)
849 – The number of extra points made (.988%)
565 – The number of field goals made (.797%)
382 – The number of games played by Andersen
77 – The number of points Andersen scored in the playoffs throughout his career (11 games)
5 – The number of NFL teams Andersen played for (Saints, Falcons, Chiefs, Vikings, Giants)
2 – The number of full-time kickers that are now in the NFL Hall of Fame (Joins Jan Stenarud)
1 – The number of players in the NFL Hall of Fame born in Denmark (thanks to Andersen)
0 – The amount of players in NFL History that have scored more points than Andersen
NFL Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
In the ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium that featured fellow inductees Kurt Warner (quarterback), LaDainian Tomlinson (running back), Jason Taylor (defensive end), Terrell Davis (running back), Kenny Easley (safety) and Jerry Jones (owner), Andersen shined as the most entertaining of all the inductee’s speeches.
Andersen began his speech by declaring love for his Danish heritage, his family and the family that took him in as a 17-year old foreign exchange student. It didn’t take long, however, for the personality to start flying. He began telling his colorful tale of the first time kicking a football and the confusion of trying to understand what was going on in this foreign game of football. Needless to say, that first field goal attempt made its way through the uprights and in Andersen’s words, “changed my life forever”.
Andersen continued on to give thanks to his former high school coach, his fellow Michigan State Spartans and New Orleans Saints head coach Bum Phillips. Mentions of Phillips started with a, “tip of the 10-gallon hat” and ended with a simple, “I miss you, Bum,” with a few laughs in between.
Gratitude continued as the speech went on to Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, along with the city itself. “I have a deep love for the city of New Orleans and its football team. Our connections together run deep. I believe the fans are the most loyal and passionate anywhere,” expressed Andersen. Andersen would explain the lessons he learned from the celebratory spirit of the people of New Orleans, who have persevered through so much. Morten Andersen stated, “I will always be a part of New Orleans and always a Saint.”
Andersen would continue to thank the people who helped him along his Hall of Fame journey. Former head coaches, special teams coaches and teammates all made the list. Andersen ended his speech with home heart-felt sentiment by mentioning his parents, twin brother, wife and two sons and how much he cherishes each. Morten Andersen’s Hall of Fame speech was as memorable as his remarkable career.
