Jan Stenerud

Norwegian-American placekicker who pioneered the soccer-style kick and became the first exclusive kicker in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Jan Stenerud (born November 26, 1942) is a Norwegian-American former professional football placekicker who played in the NFL and AFL for 19 seasons, primarily with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was not the first Norwegian-born NFL player—that distinction belongs to earlier players such as Halvor Hagen—and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991 as the first exclusive placekicker to receive the honor.

Quick Facts

Position

Placekicker

Born

26 November 1942

Birthplace

Fetsund, Norway

College

Montana State (1964–1966)

Former teams

Kansas City Chiefs (1967–1979)
Green Bay Packers (1980, 1983)
Minnesota Vikings (1984, 1985)

Lore & Background

Stenerud came to the United States on a ski jumping scholarship to Montana State University. He was discovered kicking a football while training for skiing, and after a tryout, he joined the football team. In 1965, he kicked a 59-yard field goal, aided by a tail-wind, though it was not a national college record—a 60-yard kick had been made earlier by another kicker. He was an All-American in football only, not in ski jumping.

Reader's Guide

Stenerud played 13 seasons with the Chiefs, 4 with the Green Bay Packers, and 2 with the Minnesota Vikings. He was a six-time all-star, four-time first-team All-Pro, and two-time first-team All-AFL. He helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl IV, kicking three field goals including a then-Super Bowl record 48-yarder. He retired after the 1985 season with 373 field goals and 1,699 points.