For the longest time, it appeared sure Tom Dempsey — who turned knowledgeable athlete regardless of being born with no toes on his proper foot and no fingers on his proper hand — would stand alone, a very unlikely proprietor of a document that was barely ever approached.
With two seconds remaining at New Orleans’ Tulane Stadium on the afternoon of Nov. 8, 1970, Dempsey lined as much as kick a 63-yard discipline purpose along with his Saints trailing the Lions 17-16. A good phase of the 66,910 followers had begun to flood Claiborne Avenue, certain for dwelling.
Those that stayed contemplated the preposterous chance of what Saints coach J.D. Roberts was asking Dempsey to strive. In these years, the purpose posts had been on the purpose line; this meant Dempsey’s holder, Joe Scarpati, can be inserting the ball on the Saints 37-yard line. No person had ever even tried one thing like that earlier than.
“I knew I might kick it that far,” Dempsey would say. “However might I maintain it straight?”
