FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Morten Andersen has played in more games (382), made more field goals (565) and scored more points (2,544) than anyone in NFL history. Now, he will become just the second exclusive placekicker enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Andersen played eight seasons with the Atlanta Falcons in two separate stints, the first from 1995-2000 and the second from 2006-07. When he retired after the 2007 season, the 47-year old kicker's 806 points were the most in Falcons history.
In his time with the Falcons, Andersen made several memorable kicks. However, no kick had the same magnitude as the 38-yard field goal that Andersen made in overtime against the Minnesota Vikings to send the Falcons to their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
That kick, and the man who attempted it, will forever live in Falcons lore. In honor of Andersen's induction into the Hall of Fame, let's take a look back at the five best moments of his career in Atlanta.
5. Kicks final career field goal (2007, Week 17 vs. Seattle Seahawks)
The 2007 season was one many Falcons fans would rather forget, but it was the final year for the best kicker in NFL history. With just over three minutes remaining in Atlanta's Week 17 game against Seattle, Andersen lined up for a 32-yard attempt. As he had done 564 times before in his 25-year career, Andersen knocked it straight through the uprights.
4. Kicks longest field goal in Falcons history (1995, Week 17 vs. San Francisco 49ers)
Andersen wasn't just an extremely accurate kicker, he also had a very strong leg. In a 1991 game against the Chicago Bears, Andersen drilled a career-long 60-yard field goal, which is tied for the fourth-longest in NFL history. His longest field goal as a Falcon, a 59-yarder, came against the 49ers in the final regular-season game of 1995. It still stands as the longest in franchise history, and current kicker Matt Bryant tied that mark in 2016.
3. Kicks three 50-plus yard field goals in the same game (1995, Week 15 vs. New Orleans Saints)
The 1995 season was a one for Andersen. His very first with the Falcons, Andersen was voted to his seventh Pro Bowl, named a first-team All-Pro for the third time and made a whopping eight field goals from 50 yards or more. To put that number in context, the most 50-plus yard field goals he made in any other season was three. Andersen racked up that many in one single game against New Orleans, setting an NFL record.
2. Becomes NFL's all-time scoring leader (2006, Week 15 vs. Dallas Cowboys)
After sitting out the 2005, Andersen rejoined the Falcons two games into the 2006 season. Later that year, he passed Gary Anderson as the NFL's all-time scoring leader with an extra point against the Cowboys in Week 15. 1. 'The Kick' (1999, NFC Championship Game vs. Minnesota Vikings)
Simply referred to as "The Kick" by many Falcons fans, Andersen's game-winning field goal against the Vikings to send Atlanta to its first Super Bowl was an obvious choice for the top spot on our list. With this 38-yard kick, Andersen furthered his already-impressive legacy and cemented his place in the franchise's history.
