Morten Andersen
Morten Andersen entered the National Football League as the fourth round draft pick of
the New Orleans Saints in 1982. He left the game 25 seasons later as the most prolific scorer in
league history.
Following a strike-shortened rookie season, Andersen kicked into high gear in his second
season as he netted 91 points for New Orleans in 1983. It marked the first of 22 seasons in which
he recorded 90 points or more. He topped the 100-point total 14 times in his career. The first
occasion of reaching the century mark came in 1985 when he connected on 31 of 35 field goals
and added 27 extra points for 120 points. For his efforts, he earned the first of seven Pro Bowl
nominations and was also named first-team All-Pro for the first of five times.
After 13 seasons in New Orleans and ranking as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer,
Andersen joined the Atlanta Falcons in 1995 and eventually became that team’s career scoring
leader. He recorded a spectacular season his first year in Atlanta when he scored a career-high
122 points that included a then-NFL record for most 50-yard field goals in a season (8). On Dec.
10, 1995, in a 19-14 win over his former team the Saints, he made NFL history when he became
the first kicker ever to convert three field goals of 50 yards or longer in the same game.
Andersen kicked for the Falcons for six seasons before continuing his reliable scoring with
the New York Giants (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002-03), and Minnesota Vikings (2004). In
2006 he was lured out of retirement by Atlanta and finished his career with two more campaigns
with the Falcons.
Among the most notable league records he set were career points (2,544), most field
goals (565), and games played (382). In addition, his 40 field goals of 50 yards or longer were the
most in NFL history at his retirement.
He is one of the rare players to be named to two NFL All-Decade Teams (1980s and
1990s). In all, he converted 565 of 709 field goal attempts and 849 of 859 point-after-attempts. He
led his teams in scoring 22 times and led the NFC in 1992. Andersen led the NFL in field goals in
1987, and topped all conference kickers in that category in 1985, 1987, and 1995.
Morten Andersen
Kicker – 6-2, 218 – Michigan State
1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants,
2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings (25 playing seasons)
Biographical Background
Full Name: Morten Andersen
Birthdate: August 19, 1960
Birthplace: Struer, Denmark
High School: Ben Davis (Indianapolis, IN)
Pro Career: 25 seasons, 382 games
Drafted: 4th round (86th overall) in 1982 by New Orleans Saints
Career Statistics
Year
Team
1982
New Orleans
1983
New Orleans
1984
New Orleans
1985
New Orleans
1986
New Orleans
1987
New Orleans
1988
New Orleans
1989
New Orleans
1990
New Orleans
1991
New Orleans
1992
New Orleans
1993
New Orleans
1994
New Orleans
1995
Atlanta
1996
Atlanta
1997
Atlanta
1998
Atlanta
1999
Atlanta
2000
Atlanta
2001
N.Y. Giants
2002
Kansas City
2003
Kansas City
2004
Minnesota
2006
Atlanta
2007
Atlanta
Career Total
G
8
16
16
16
16
12
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
14
16
16
14
14
382
XP
6
37
34
27
30
37
32
44
29
38
33
33
32
29
31
35
51
34
23
29
51
58
45
27
24
849
XPA
6
38
34
29
30
37
33
45
29
38
34
33
32
30
31
35
52
34
23
30
51
59
45
27
24
859
FG
2
18
20
31
26
FGA
5
24
27
35
30
28
36
26
20
21
25
29
28
28
31
22
23
23
15
25
23
22
16
18
20
25
565
36
29
27
32
34
35
39
37
29
27
28
21
31
28
26
20
22
23
28
709
Pct.
40.0
75.0
74.1
88.6
86.7
77.8
72.2
69.0
77.8
78.1
85.3
80.0
71.8
83.8
75.9
85.2
82.1
71.4
80.6
82.1
84.6
80.0
81.8
87.0
89.3
79.7
Lg.
45
52
53
55
53
52
51
49
52
60
52
56
48
59
54
55
53
49
51
51
50
49
48
45
47
60
Pts.
12
91
94
120
108
121
110
104
92
113
120
117
116
122
97
104
120
79
98
98
117
106
99
87
99
2544
All-League Teams
All-Pro: 1985 (SN) • 1986 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW) • 1987 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW) •
1992 (PFWA, NEA) • 1995 (AP, PFWA, SN)
All-Pro Second Team: 1985 (AP) • 1988 (NEA) • 1992 (AP)
All-NFC: 1985 (UPI) • 1986 (UPI, PW) • 1987 (UPI, PW) • 1988 (UPI) • 1992 (UPI, PW) •
1995 (UPI, PW)
Morten Andersen, Page 2
Pro Bowls
(7) – 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996
In the NFL Record Book (at time of his retirement following 2007 season)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
[1st] Most Games Played, Career – 382
[1st] Most Points Scored, Career – 2,544
[1st] Most Consecutive Games Scoring – 360
[1st] Most Field Goal Attempts, Career – 709
[1st] Most Field Goals, Career – 565
[1st] Most Field Goals, 50 or More Yards, Career – 40
[1st] Most Field Goals, 50 or More Yards, Season – 8 (1995)
[Tied for 1st] Most Field Goals, 50 or More Yards, Game – 3 (vs. New Orleans, Dec. 10, 1995)
[2nd] Most Seasons Played – 25
[2nd] Most PAT Attempts, Career – 859
[2nd] Most PATs Converted, Career – 849
[Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons, 100 or More Points – 14
[Tied for 3rd] Longest Field Goal – 60 (vs. Chicago, Oct. 27, 1991)
Postseason Records
•
[Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Games Scoring Field Goals, 10 (1987-2004)
Pro Bowl Records
• [1st] Most Points Scored, Career – 45
• [1st] Most PATs Converted, Career – 15
• [1st] Most Field Goal Attempts, Career – 18
• [1st] Most Field Goals, Career – 10
• [Tied for 2nd] Longest Field Goal – 51 (1989)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Field Goal Attempts, Game – 4 (1993)
Team Records
Saints records held by Andersen
(Records through the 1994 season, Andersen’s final season with New Orleans)
• [1st] Most Consecutive Games with Points Scored – 174 (1983-1994)
• [1st] Most Consecutive PATs Converted – 119 (1989-1992)
• [1st] Most Consecutive Games with Field Goal – 20 (1987-88)
• [1st] Most Consecutive Successful Field Goal Attempts – 25 (1992-93)
• [1st] Most Games Played, Career – 196
• [1st] Most Points Scored, Career – 1,318
• [1st] Most Points Scored, Season – 121 (1987)
• [1st] Most Field Goals, Career – 302
• [1st] Most Field Goals, Seasons – 31 (1985)
• [1st] Most Field Goal Attempts, Career – 389
• [1st] Most PATs Converted, Career – 412
• [1st] Most PATs Converted, Season – 44 (1989)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Season – 13
• [Tied 1st] Most Field Goals, Game – 5 (vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 1, 1985; vs. San Francisco, Oct. 25,
1987; vs. Atlanta, Dec. 3, 1992; at Atlanta, Dec. 11, 1994)
Morten Andersen, Page 3
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
[Tied for 1st] Most Field Goal Attempts, Game – 7 (vs. San Francisco, Oct. 25, 1987)
[Tied for 1st] Most PATs Converted, Game – 6 (vs. Denver, Nov. 20, 1988)
[2nd] Most Consecutive Games with Field Goal – 19 (1985-86)
[2nd] Most Consecutive Successful Field Goal Attempts – 20 (1985-86)
[2nd] Most Points Scored, Season – 120 (1985, 1992)
[2nd] Most Field Goals, Season – 29 (1992)
[2nd] Most Field Goal Attempts, Season – 39 (1994)
[2nd] Longest Field Goal – 60 (vs. Chicago, Oct. 27, 1991)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Games, Career – 122 (1987-1994)
[3rd] Most Consecutive Games with Field Goal – 17 (1990-91)
[3rd] Most Field Goals, Season – 28 (1987, 1993, 1994)
[3rd] Most PATs Converted, Season – 38 (1991)
Chiefs records held by Andersen
(Records through the 2003 season, Andersen’s final season with Kansas City)
• [1st] Most PAT Attempts, Season – 59 (2003)
• [1st] Most PATs Converted, Season – 58 (2003)
• [2nd] Most PAT Attempts, Season – 51 (2002)
• [2nd] Most PATs Converted, Season – 51 (2002)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most PATs Converted, Game – 7 (vs. Arizona, Dec. 2, 2002; vs. St. Louis, Dec. 8,
2002)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Games Scoring Field Goals – 11 (2002)
Falcons records held by Andersen
(Records through the 2007 season, Andersen’s final season with Atlanta)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
[1st] Most Points, Career – 806
[1st] Most Consecutive Games Scoring, Career – 124
[1st] Most PATs Converted, Career – 254
[1st] Most PAT Attempts, Career – 256
[1st] Most PAT Attempts, Season – 52 (1998)
[1st] Most PATs Converted, Season – 38 (1991)
[1st] Most Consecutive PATs Converted, Career – 153
[1st] Most Field Goals, Career – 184
[1st] Most Field Goal Attempts, Career – 224
[Tied for 1st] Most PATs Converted, Season – 51 (1998)
[1st] Most Field Goals, 50 or More Yards, Career – 15
[1st] Most Field Goals, 50 or More Yards, Season – 8 (1995)
[1st] Most Field Goals, 50 or More Yards, Game – 3 (vs. New Orleans, Dec. 10, 1995)
[1st] Longest Field Goal – 59 (vs. San Francisco, Dec. 24, 1995)
[2nd] Most Points, Season – 122 (1995)
[2nd] Most Field Goals, Season – 31 (1995)
[2nd] Best Field Goal Percentage, Career – .821
[Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Field Goals Made – 18 (1995)
[3rd] Most Points, Season – 120 (1998)
[3rd] Most Field Goal Attempts, Season – 37 (1995)
Morten Andersen, Page 4
League/Team Statistical Titles
NFL Statistical Championships
N
Most Field Goals: 1987
NFC Statistical Championships
N
Scoring Titles: 1992
N
N
A
Most Field Goals: 1985 , 1987 , 1995
Team Statistical Championships
Scoring Titles: 1983N, 1984 N, 1985 N, 1986 N, 1987 N, 1988 N, 1990 N, 1991 N, 1992 N,
1993 N, 1994 N, 1995A, 1996 A, 1997 A, 1998 A, 1999 A, 2000 A, 2001G, 2004M,
2006 A, 2007 A
N
New Orleans
G
N.Y. Giants
M
Minnesota
A
Atlanta
Awards and Honors
• NFL All-Decade Team of 1980s
• NFL All-Decade Team of 1990s
Year-by-Year Team Records
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
New Orleans Saints ............... 4-5-0*
New Orleans Saints ................ 8-8-0
New Orleans Saints ................ 7-9-0
New Orleans Saints .............. 5-11-0
New Orleans Saints ................ 7-9-0
New Orleans Saints ............ 12-3-0
New Orleans Saints .............. 10-6-0
New Orleans Saints ................ 9-7-0
New Orleans Saints .............. 8-8-0
New Orleans Saints ............ 11-5-0
New Orleans Saints ............ 12-4-0
New Orleans Saints ................ 8-8-0
New Orleans Saints ................ 7-9-0
(9th)
(3rd)
(3rd)
(3rd)
(4th)
(2nd)
(3rd)
(3rd)
(2nd)
(1st)
(2nd)
(2nd)
(2nd)
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2006
2007
Atlanta Falcons .................... 9-7-0 (2nd)
Atlanta Falcons ..................... 3-13-0 (4th)
Atlanta Falcons ....................... 7-9-0 (3rd)
Atlanta Falcons ...................... 14-2 (1st)
Atlanta Falcons ..................... 5-11-0 (3rd)
Atlanta Falcons ..................... 4-12-0 (5th)
New York Giants ..................... 7-9-0 (3rd)
Kansas City Chiefs ................. 8-8-0 (4th)
Kansas City Chiefs ............. 13-3-0 (1st)
Minnesota Vikings ................ 8-8-0 (2nd)
Atlanta Falcons ....................... 7-9-0 (3rd)
Atlanta Falcons ..................... 4-12-0 (4th)
* AFC regular season finish in strike-shortened season.
(Division Finish in Parentheses)
Qualified for Postseason in Bold
Championship Games
1998 NFC – Atlanta Falcons 30, Minnesota Vikings 27 (OT)
Andersen was three for three on field goals including a game-winning 38-yard field goal in
overtime. He also had three PATs.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl XXXIII – Denver Broncos 34, Atlanta Falcons 19
Andersen was two for three on field goals. He also had one PAT.
Morten Andersen, Page 5
Media Guide Excerpts
2003 Kansas City Chiefs Media Guide Biography
DOES NOT INCLUDE ANDERSEN’S FINAL FOUR SEASONS
Morten Andersen, Page 6
Morten Andersen, Page 7
Morten Andersen, Page 8
Morten Andersen, Page 9
Morten Andersen, Page 10
Morten Andersen, Page 11
Morten Andersen's 50-yard field goals
Games: 36
Results: 19-17-0
No.
Date
1
2, 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26, 27, 28
29, 30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Oct. 23, 1983
Dec. 11, 1983
Oct. 21, 1984
Oct. 28, 1984
Sept. 8, 1985
Sept. 15, 1985
Nov. 3, 1985
Oct. 26, 1986
Nov. 2, 1986
Nov. 15, 1987
Dec. 27, 1987
Oct. 23, 1988
Oct. 14, 1990
Dec. 2, 1990
Dec. 16, 1990
Oct. 27, 1991
Dec. 1, 1991
Oct. 4, 1992
Oct. 18, 1992
Nov. 1, 1992
Dec. 26, 1993
Sept. 3, 1995
Oct. 1, 1995
Nov. 12, 1995
Dec. 10, 1995
Dec. 24, 1995
Oct. 20, 1996
Sept. 14, 1997
Oct. 12, 1997
Oct. 25, 1998
Nov. 22, 1998
Oct. 22, 2000
Nov. 19, 2000
Oct. 7, 2001
Nov. 19, 2001
Sept. 29, 2002
Opponent
@ Tampa Bay
@ Philadelphia
@ Dallas
@ Cleveland
Kansas City
@ Denver
@ L.A. Rams
@ N.Y. Jets
San Francisco
@ San Francisco
Green Bay
L.A. Raiders
Cleveland
@ Dallas
Pittsburgh
Chicago
@ San Francisco
@ Detroit
@ Phoenix
Tampa Bay
@ Philadelphia
Carolina
New England
@ Buffalo
New Orleans
San Francisco
@ Dallas
Oakland
@ New Orleans
@ N.Y. Jets
Chicago
New Orleans
@ San Francisco
Washington
@ Minnesota
Miami
Result
Score
Distance
W
24-21
50
W
L
W
L
L
L
L
W
W
W
W
W
L
L
L
L
W
W
W
L
W
W
L
W
W
L
L
W
L
W
L
L
W
L
W
20-17
27-30
16-14
27-47
23-34
10-28
23-28
23-10
26-24
33-24
20-6
25-20
13-17
6-9
17-20
24-38
13-7
30-21
23-21
26-37
23-20
30-17
17-23
19-14
28-27
28-32
31-36
23-17
3-28
20-13
19-21
6-16
23-9
16-28
48-30
52, 50
50
53
50
55
51
53
50
51
52
51
52
50
50
60
52
50
52
50
56
51
54
50
51, 55, 55
52, 59
54
51
55
53
50
50
51
50
51
50