Who was the first barefoot place kicker in football?

Answer 1

Rich Karlis of the Denver Broncos in the 80s was one of the barefoot kickers. Tony Franklin, who kicked with the Eagles, Patriots, and Dolphins in the 80s was another, as was Mike Lansford of the Rams in the 80s.

Paul McFadden with the Eagles, Falcons and Giants played from 1984 to 1989 and was rookie of the year in 1984.

Answer 2

The last full time barefoot kicker in the NFL was Mike Lansford of the Los Angeles Rams whose final game was December 31, 1990.

Rich Karlis' final game for the Detroit Lions was November 11, 1990.

Jeff Wilkins of the 2002 St. Louis Rams kicked barefoot for the first 7 games of the season before putting the shoe back on for Game 8. Wilkins is generally not considered as having kicked barefoot as he wore an ace bandage wrapped around his kicking foot.

Answer 3

Mario Gerhardt, who moved from Austria to the US with his family in the '50s, was the first barefoot place kicker in football as the kicker for the E. Cleveland Shaw HS Cardinals in 1957.

Coach Leo Strang discovered him in gym class. Mario gained national attention and Shaw won its first league championship, with Mario connecting on 34 of 35 extra points. Mario recounts that Coach Strang encouraged him to kick without a shoe because it would be a novelty and attract more fans, which it did.

Mario is presently the soccer coach at Chagrin Falls, HS in Ohio. After HS he attended the US Naval Academy, where he played soccer, and served in Viet Nam.

Coach Strang also recurited another member to that team who at the time was only running track: Tom Matte, who went on to fame at Ohio State then with the Baltimore Colts.

Answer 4

There were actually four of them in NFL history.

The first wes Tony Franklin, then Paul McFadden, as well as Rich Karlis and Mike Lansford.

Answer 5

Tony Franklin

Answer 6

Tony Franklin.

Answer 7

Ronnie Coleman

Answer 8

tom dempsey