The man who sent the Falcons to their first Super Bowl will be immortalized in Canton.
On Saturday evening, Morten Andersen was named to the 2017 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His induction is scheduled to take place on August 5.
"Morten is extremely deserving of this honor, and was the best kicker of his era," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. "His memorable kicks will always be in the memories of Falcons fans and we are all forever grateful for his time as an Atlanta Falcon. On behalf of our entire organization and Falcon fans everywhere, we congratulate and celebrate Morten on his selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame."
Andersen, 56, played 25 years in the NFL -- 13 with Atlanta. He made 302 of 389 field goals as a Falcon, and the 59-yarder he made on Dec. 24, 1995 is tied for the longest in franchise history.
Andersen is best known for his overtime, game-winning FG in the 1998 NFC Championship Game. 11:59 into the extra frame, he booted a kick straight through the uprights from 38 yards out, punching the Falcons' ticket to SBXXXIII.
In 2006, during his second stint with the Falcons, the Denmark native became the all-time NFL leader in points and field goals made. And in his final season before retiring at 47 years old, he converted 25 of 28 field goal attempts -- a 89.3 percent success rate, the best of his illustrious career.
Over the course of a quarter-century, Andersen was named to seven Pro Bowls, six All-Pro teams and the All-Decade teams for the 1980s and 1990s.
