Ex-NFL Kicker Tom Dempsey Dies at 73
Tom Dempsey , who in 1970 kicked a 63 yard field goal , which stood for 43 years as the longest ever in the NFL, has died at age 75 from complications related to coronavirus.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
NEW ORLEANS — Former NFL kicker Tom Dempsey, who played in the NFL despite being born without toes on his kicking foot and made a record 63-yard field goal, died late Saturday while struggling with complications from the new coronavirus, his daughter said. He was 73.
The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate first reported Dempsey’s death. Ashley Dempsey said Sunday that her father, who has resided in an assisted living home for several years after being diagnosed with dementia, tested positive for the coronavirus a little more than a week ago.
The Orleans Parish coroner has yet to release an official cause of death.
Dempsey’s game-winning field goal against Detroit on Nov. 8, 1970, stood as an NFL record for 43 years until the Broncos’ Matt Prater broke it with a 64-yarder in Denver in 2013...
“Tom’s life spoke directly to the power of the human spirit and exemplified his resolute determination to not allow setbacks to impede following his dreams and aspirations,” Saints owner Gayle Benson said in a statement. “He exemplified the same fight and fortitude in recent years as he battled valiantly against illnesses but never wavered and kept his trademark sense of humor.”
Dempsey was born in Milwaukee without four fingers on his right hand and without toes on his right foot. He kicked straight on with a flat-front shoe that drew protests from some who saw the specially made kicking shoe as an unfair advantage. Former Dallas Cowboys President Tex Schramm compared the shoe to “the head of a golf club.”
But Dempsey would counter by saying he was merely doing the best he could to use the foot with which he was born, and for the most part, NFL officials, including then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle, agreed. Still, in 1977, the NFL passed what is widely known as the “The Dempsey Rule,” mandating that shoes worn by players with “an artificial limb on his kicking leg must have a kicking surface that conforms to that of a normal kicking shoe.”
Dempsey returned to New Orleans after retiring from the league. About seven years ago, he was diagnosed with dementia and later moved to an assisted living home, where he contracted the coronavirus in March during the pandemic that has hit the city — and nursing home — particularly hard. He is survived by wife Carlene, three children, a sister and grandchildren.
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For a week or two in 1970 Tom Dempsey was one of the most famous sports figures in America.
Steve T
1 year ago
The record field goal length at that time was 56 yards, Dempsey broke the record by 7 yards. I love this recording because you can actually hear the thunderous thud of his foot hitting the ball. One of the lions said he was walking back to the locker room, thinking they had won, and he said it sounded like a cannon going off when Dempsey kicked the ball, now I know what he means. This might be one of the greatest records ever set because Dempsey was in a situation where he had to break the existing record by 7 yards (12.5%) or they lose. How many other cases has a record been broken in a do or die situation? And where else have you ever a heard a record in professional sports being broken by over 10%? Great story.
RIP Tom, that was one hell of a field goal and will always be remembered.
RIP Tom