Luis Zendejas
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| Position: | Curimeo, Michoacan, Mexico | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 175 lb (79 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Don Antonio Lugo (CA) | ||||||||
| College: | Arizona State | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1985 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR · ArenaFan.com | |||||||||
Luis Fernando Zendejas (born October 22, 1961) is a
Early years
Zendejas, was born in
He attended
As a senior, he became the school's first four-year varsity letterman, while helping to win its first California Interscholastic Federation football title. He received All-CIF honors at the end of the season.[1]
College career
Zendejas accepted a football scholarship from
As a junior in 1983, he made a school record 28 field goals for 112 points, receiving first-team
He finished his college career making 81 out of 108 field goals (75%) and 137 out of 138 extra points (99.3%). He set the then-NCAA Division I career scoring record of 368 points, and most of the school's kicking records.
In 1995, he was inducted into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame.[2]
Professional career
Arizona Outlaws
Zendejas was selected in the
Minnesota Vikings
In 1986, he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings, who were looking for a replacement for the recently retired Jan Stenerud.[4] On August 21, he was released after losing the kicking competition against Chuck Nelson.
Dallas Cowboys (first stint)
In
On July 22, 1988, he was re-signed by the Cowboys who wanted protect themselves in case Ruzek's contract holdout extended into the regular season.[7] Zendejas, who made a 47-yard field goal but missed two 49-yarders in the preseason, was released when Ruzek rejoined the team on September 13.[8]
Philadelphia Eagles
On September 27, 1988, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles after Dean Dorsey and Dale Dawson struggled in the first four games of the year.[9] In the twelfth game against the New York Giants, he had a field goal blocked with 8:50 left in overtime, that was returned by teammate Clyde Simmons for a 15-yard game winning touchdown.[10] He was a part of the playoff game against the Chicago Bears famously known as the "Fog Bowl", where he made all of the Eagles' points (4 field goals) in the 12–20 loss.
In 1989, he made four field goals against the San Francisco 49ers. On October 30, he was released after he missed four of seven field-goal attempts, including a 41-yarder in the Eagles' 28–24 win against the Denver Broncos. Steve DeLine was signed to take his place.[11]
Dallas Cowboys (second stint)
On November 7,
Zendejas was released on August 26, 1990, after losing a kicking competition against Ken Willis.
Arizona Rattlers
He also played for the Arena Football League's Arizona Rattlers from 1992 to 1995. He was a part of the ArenaBowl VIII championship team in 1994. He is the only kicker in Rattlers history to drop-kick extra points for two points.
Birmingham Barracudas
Zendejas finished his career with the Birmingham Barracudas of the Canadian Football League, where he kicked for 144 points in a single season in 1995.
Personal life
Luis' brothers,
References
- ^ "Zendejas drives kids toward football -- the NFL kind". 10 October 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Sun Devil Hall of Fame (Football)". Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Kicker Luis Zendejas of Arizona State, the highest scorer..." Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Jerry Burns will leave the obscurity of the press..." Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "Newly-signed Saint ready for real action". 2 September 1987. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "For the Record". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Negotiations between the Dallas Cowboys and hold out kicker..." Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Dallas Kicker Is Cut". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Sports People; Eagles Get Kicker". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Clyde Simmons raced 15 yards after teammate Luis Zendejas..." Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Eagles release Zendejas, sign DeLine". Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ Anderson, Dave (November 26, 1989). "Sports of The Times – The Backfire From Buddy Ryan's 'Bounties'". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ "17 fined for 'Bounty Bowl'". Boca Raton News. Associated Press. December 22, 1989. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ "Dallas place kicker Luis Zendejas, who two weeks ago..." Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "6 Zendejas Cousins Are Star Kickers". Retrieved May 4, 2021.