Tony Franklin (kicker)
No. 1 | |
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Position: | Kicker |
Personal information | |
Born: | Big Spring, Texas, U.S. | November 18, 1956
Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
Weight: | 182 lb (83 kg) |
Career information | |
College: | Texas A&M |
NFL draft: | 1979 / Round: 3 / Pick: 74 |
Career history | |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Career NFL statistics | |
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Anthony Ray Franklin (born November 18, 1956) is an American former professional football player who was a kicker in the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1988 for the Philadelphia Eagles, the New England Patriots, and the Miami Dolphins. Franklin was best known for his barefoot kicking style, which led to his nickname "the Barefoot Kicker". He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies.
College career
While also offered scholarships at New Mexico State and Texas Christian University, Franklin accepted the “full ride” college football scholarship offered by Head Coach Emory Bellard at Texas A&M University.[1]
He set the record for the longest
Franklin finished his collegiate career breaking 18 NCAA records at the time,[3] including most career field goals (56), career kick scoring (291 points), most field goals of 50 yards or longer in a career (16), most field goals made in a three-year career (45) and longest average for field goals made in a career (39.5 yards). He was a consensus All-American pick as a sophomore in 1976 and earned All-American honors again as a senior in 1978.[4] He was a Second-team All-America selection as a junior, in 1977.
He is listed as a "Legend of the Sun Bowl" by the Sun Bowl Association for his 63-yard field goal against Florida in the January 1977 Sun Bowl. He is also a member of the Sun Bowl's 75th Anniversary All-Sun Bowl Team.[5]
Professional career
Franklin was drafted by the
On February 21, 1984, Franklin was traded to the
References
- ^ “Tony Franklin Became the ‘The Barefoot Kicker,’ But Where is He Today?” FanBuzz, Patrick Pinak, Feb. 23, 2021.
- ^ Curtis, Jake (August 18, 2010). "How Swede it was". The San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ "Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA.
- ^ "FWAA All-time All-Americans" (PDF).
- ^ "Sun Bowl Association Honors 75 Players On 75th Anniversary Team".
- ^ "Super Bowl XV - Oakland Raiders vs. Philadelphia Eagles - January 25th, 1981". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-11-16.