Moments in NFL History: Tom Dempsey enters the record books

Yes, records are made to be broken. Some, however, remain legendary and stand the test of time long after being surpassed because of their unusual nature and back story. 

Such is the case with a kicking record set 56 years ago.

On this date (Nov. 8) in 1970, New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey ran on to the field with only a few seconds left on the clock and his team trailing the Detroit Lions 17-16. With a swift and mighty swing of his right leg, Dempsey kicked a 63-yard field goal to give the Saints a 19-17 victory.

Dempsey’s 63-yarder broke the NFL record for longest field goal by 7 yards.

Like many athletes, Dempsey had to overcome adversity to make it in the game, but his path was unique in the NFL. He was born with no toes on his right foot and no fingers on his right hand. He did not let this derail his dreams of playing in the National Football League and signed as an undrafted free agent in 1968 with the San Diego Chargers before finding his way to New Orleans.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is proud to be the home to this one-of-a-kind artifact.

“It is a customized half shoe with a flat sole surface. It is the kicking shoe worn by Tom Dempsey,” Jason Aikens told the Hall of Fame. “The shoe is from the 1970 NFL season when he kicked a then-NFL record 63-yard field goal … After the record kick, Dempsey went on a hot streak hitting nine of his next 14 kicks. Surprisingly, during the rest of his 11-year career, he never made a field goal longer than 54 yards.”

Aikens, who serves as the curator at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, further described the story an artifact like this tells.

“Dempsey’s dominant leg was his right, and special shoes were designed to compensate for the shape of his foot. He began playing football as a youngster because he liked to hit. He initially tried out for the Green Bay Packers as a lineman, but found he was physically overmatched,” Aikens said.

“Undaunted, Dempsey started concentrating on kicking and earned a roster spot on the New Orleans Saints. His story shows there is no reason to let physical differences hold you back from what you want to achieve.”

For Dempsey to kick the ball effectively, a special shoe was made for him. This shoe had a flattened area on its front, and while it worked for Dempsey, it caused some controversy as a competitive advantage.

The kick led the NFL to create the “Tom Dempsey Rule,” which stated “any type of shoe worn by a player with an artificial limb on his kicking leg must have a kicking surface that conforms to that of a normal kicking shoe.”

ESPN’s “Sport Science” tested the “unfair advantage” theory. The show analyzed Dempsey’s approach and mechanics and compared them to that of Jason Elam after he had tied Dempsey’s record in 1998. The show concluded there was no unfair advantage for Dempsey over the modern-style kickers.

Dempsey held the record alone from 1970 until Elam matched it in 1998. Sebastian Janikowski (2011) and David Akers (2012) also connected from 63 yards in their careers.

The longtime record finally fell in 2013, when Broncos kicker Matt Prater hit from 64 yards. Since then, the magical 63-yard mark has been bested six more times:

• Justin Tucker 66-yard field goal (2021)
• Brandon Aubrey 65-yard field goal (2024)
• Brandon Aubrey 64-yard field goal (2025)
• Chase McLaughlin 65-yard field goal (2025)
• Cam Little 68-yard field goal (2025) (current NFL record)
• Tyler Loop 64-yard field goal (2026)

While the record has been broken over time, Dempsey still remains the only kicker to make a field goal over 60 yards prior to the goal posts relocating to the back of the endzone, meaning he is the only player ever to successfully kick and make a field goal from beyond his own 40-yard line.

While it was just one, record-breaking play, this moment created the “Tom Dempsey Rule,” that “any type of show worn by a player with an artificial limb on his kicking leg must have a kicking surface that conforms to that of a normal kicking shoe.”

Dempsey might not sit at the top of the record books anymore, but his name and legacy will forever live in this amazing game.