Ranking the KC Chiefs Pro Football Hall of Fame members

#11 – Jan Stenerud, Place Kicker – Class of 1991

Jan Stenerud was the first Norwegian professional football player in NFL history. He played an impressive 19 seasons in the AFL and eventually the NFL, 13 of those for the Chiefs. He ended his career with stints as a Green Bay Packer and Minnesota Viking, but he is largely remembered for his time donning the red and gold.

After retiring, it didn’t take Stenerud long to be invited to the greatest collection of athletes in sports, as he was welcomed to Canton in 1991 as the first pure placekicker in its history. Looking back at his career it’s easy to see why.

The former ski-jumping star turned All-American placekicker for Montana State University, Stenerud was drafted in the third round of the 1966 AFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He excelled from the outset being named to two AFL All Star games and four NFL Pro Bowls, adding two First Team All AFL and four First Team All Pro (NFL) nods to his resume.

Through 13 seasons with the Chiefs, Stenerud surpassed 100 points five times, his peak of 129 coming in his second season with the team, and averaged an impressive 95 points per season. Arguably his career highlight came in Super Bowl IV, in which he kicked three field goals en route to the team’s first Super Bowl championship.

Jan Stenerud is currently one of only four kickers inducted into the Hall of Fame. He is the most decorated place kicker in Kansas City Chiefs history, and widely regarded as one of the NFL’s best ever.

“Just because I don’t do cartwheels when I make a game-winning field goal doesn’t mean I’m not extremely pleased.” – Jan Stenerud