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 G XP XPA FG FGA Pct. Lg. Pts. 1982 New Orleans 8 6 6 2 5 40.0 45 12 1983 New Orleans 16 37 38 18 24 75.0 52 91 1984 New Orleans 16 34 34 20 27 74.1 53 94 1985 New Orleans 16 27 29 31 35 88.6 55 120 1986 New Orleans 16 30 30 26 30 86.7 53 108 1987 New Orleans 12 37 37 28 36 77.8 52 121 1988 New Orleans 16 32 33 26 36 72.2 51 110 1989 New Orleans 16 44 45 20 29 69.0 49 104 1990 New Orleans 16 29 29 21 27 77.8 52 92 1991 New Orleans 16 38 38 25 32 78.1 60 113 1992 New Orleans 16 33 34 29 34 85.3 52 120 1993 New Orleans 16 33 33 28 35 80.0 56 117 1994 New Orleans 16 32 32 28 39 71.8 48 116 1995 Atlanta 16 29 30 31 37 83.8 59 122 1996 Atlanta 16 31 31 22 29 75.9 54 97 1997 Atlanta 16 35 35 23 27 85.2 55 104 1998 Atlanta 16 51 52 23 28 82.1 53 120 1999 Atlanta 16 34 34 15 21 71.4 49 79 2000 Atlanta 16 23 23 25 31 80.6 51 98 2001 N.Y. Giants 16 29 30 23 28 82.1 51 98 2002 Kansas City 14 51 51 22 26 84.6 50 117 2003 Kansas City 16 58 59 16 20 80.0 49 106 2004 Minnesota 16 45 45 18 22 81.8 48 99 2006 Atlanta 14 27 27 20 23 87.0 45 87 2007 Atlanta 14 24 24 25 28 89.3 47 99 Career Total 382 849 859 565 709 79.7 60 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)
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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 Most Field Goals: 1987 N
NFC Statistical Championships Scoring Titles: 1992 N Most Field Goals: 1985 N, 1987 N, 1995 A
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 New Orleans Saints ...... 4-5-0* (9th) 1995 Atlanta Falcons ...... 9-7-0 (2nd) 1983 New Orleans Saints ...... 8-8-0 (3rd) 1996 Atlanta Falcons ...... 3-13-0 (4th) 1984 New Orleans Saints ...... 7-9-0 (3rd) 1997 Atlanta Falcons ...... 7-9-0 (3rd) 1985 New Orleans Saints ...... 5-11-0 (3rd) 1998 Atlanta Falcons ...... 14-2 (1st) 1986 New Orleans Saints ...... 7-9-0 (4th) 1999 Atlanta Falcons ...... 5-11-0 (3rd) 1987 New Orleans Saints ...... 12-3-0 (2nd) 2000 Atlanta Falcons ...... 4-12-0 (5th) 1988 New Orleans Saints ...... 10-6-0 (3rd) 2001 New York Giants ...... 7-9-0 (3rd) 1989 New Orleans Saints ...... 9-7-0 (3rd) 2002 Kansas City Chiefs ...... 8-8-0 (4th) 1990 New Orleans Saints ...... 8-8-0 (2nd) 2003 Kansas City Chiefs ...... 13-3-0 (1st) 1991 New Orleans Saints ...... 11-5-0 (1st) 2004 Minnesota Vikings ...... 8-8-0 (2nd) 1992 New Orleans Saints ...... 12-4-0 (2nd) 2006 Atlanta Falcons ...... 7-9-0 (3rd) 1993 New Orleans Saints ...... 8-8-0 (2nd) 2007 Atlanta Falcons ...... 4-12-0 (4th) 1994 New Orleans Saints ...... 7-9-0 (2nd)
* 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.
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Media Guide Excerpts
2003 Kansas City Chiefs Media Guide Biography DOES NOT INCLUDE ANDERSEN’S FINAL FOUR SEASONS
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Morten Andersen's 50-yard field goals
Games: 36 Results: 19-17-0 No. Date Opponent Result Score Distance 1 Oct. 23, 1983 @ Tampa Bay W 24-21 50 2, 3 Dec. 11, 1983 @ Philadelphia W 20-17 52, 50 4 Oct. 21, 1984 @ Dallas L 27-30 50 5 Oct. 28, 1984 @ Cleveland W 16-14 53 6 Sept. 8, 1985 Kansas City L 27-47 50 7 Sept. 15, 1985 @ Denver L 23-34 55 8 Nov. 3, 1985 @ L.A. Rams L 10-28 51 9 Oct. 26, 1986 @ N.Y. Jets L 23-28 53 10 Nov. 2, 1986 San Francisco W 23-10 50 11 Nov. 15, 1987 @ San Francisco W 26-24 51 12 Dec. 27, 1987 Green Bay W 33-24 52 13 Oct. 23, 1988 L.A. Raiders W 20-6 51 14 Oct. 14, 1990 Cleveland W 25-20 52 15 Dec. 2, 1990 @ Dallas L 13-17 50 16 Dec. 16, 1990 Pittsburgh L 6-9 50 17 Oct. 27, 1991 Chicago L 17-20 60 18 Dec. 1, 1991 @ San Francisco L 24-38 52 19 Oct. 4, 1992 @ Detroit W 13-7 50 20 Oct. 18, 1992 @ Phoenix W 30-21 52 21 Nov. 1, 1992 Tampa Bay W 23-21 50 22 Dec. 26, 1993 @ Philadelphia L 26-37 56 23 Sept. 3, 1995 Carolina W 23-20 51 24 Oct. 1, 1995 New England W 30-17 54 25 Nov. 12, 1995 @ Buffalo L 17-23 50 26, 27, 28 Dec. 10, 1995 New Orleans W 19-14 51, 55, 55 29, 30 Dec. 24, 1995 San Francisco W 28-27 52, 59 31 Oct. 20, 1996 @ Dallas L 28-32 54 32 Sept. 14, 1997 Oakland L 31-36 51 33 Oct. 12, 1997 @ New Orleans W 23-17 55 34 Oct. 25, 1998 @ N.Y. Jets L 3-28 53 35 Nov. 22, 1998 Chicago W 20-13 50 36 Oct. 22, 2000 New Orleans L 19-21 50 37 Nov. 19, 2000 @ San Francisco L 6-16 51 38 Oct. 7, 2001 Washington W 23-9 50 39 Nov. 19, 2001 @ Minnesota L 16-28 51 40 Sept. 29, 2002 Miami W 48-30 50