OT-A Kicker Once won the NFL MVP...Who Knew??
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/08/sport/mark-moseley-1982-mvp-nfl-spt-intl/index.html
My first memories of sports are in the area around 1984/1985. Obviously this isn't new information but until I saw this story I can honestly say I don't ever remember hearing about this. A lot of things had to come together for Mark Moseley to win the NFL MVP and I think we can all agree it won't ever happen again. I just thought it was a fun little story to share.
February 9th, 2023 at 8:12 AM ^
Won’t ever happen again, you say?
February 9th, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^
Look at that steely-eyed missile man.
February 9th, 2023 at 9:50 AM ^
$$$$$
February 9th, 2023 at 8:15 AM ^
As a Redskins fan I was well aware of this. I use to have a Riddle Moseley jersey
February 9th, 2023 at 8:45 AM ^
The earliest a kicker has ever gone is the 6th pick in the draft in 1966. There have been five kickers taken in the first round. The last time it happened was in 2000.
February 9th, 2023 at 9:12 AM ^
2000 was Sebastian Janikowski.
Two picks later the Seahawks drafted Shaun Alexander, who would win league MVP 5 years later.
February 9th, 2023 at 9:54 AM ^
not really a bad pick 17th overall. played for 18 years, is the Raiders all-time leading scorer, has held a bunch of NFL records, etc.
February 9th, 2023 at 9:55 AM ^
I mean, according to pro football reference math, Shaun Alexander has 720 career points while Sebastian Janikowski has almost 2,000. So there's that.
February 9th, 2023 at 12:57 PM ^
Jason Hanson was taken as the last pick in the second round by the Lions. He played his entire 21-season career there and is fourth in NFL history for points scored (granted, all kickers at the top until you get to Jerry Rice at #42). Dude was money until the end. If there were to be a Lions' Mount Rushmore, there is a good argument that he should be on it.
Point is... he was worth being a top 10 pick. No kicker will ever be taken that high but what a luxury to not have to worry about position of significant importance for that long of time.
February 9th, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^
Probably should have been Wes Chandler. 1032 receving yards and 9 TDs in 8 games (he missed one) is pretty crazy, even in that offense
February 9th, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
could argue for Dan Fouts (top 2 in the league in basically every category and finished a close second in MVP voting) or Marcus Allen.
Allen won offensive rookie of the year, finished second in offensive player of the year, and 3rd in MVP voting.
It is crazy that Chandler won a total of zero awards that year.
February 9th, 2023 at 9:50 AM ^
I remember it well. Would have to go back and look at who else may have been deserving. The Redskins did have a pretty lousy offense for a Champion. Maybe that would have been the year to give it to a defensive player?
February 9th, 2023 at 10:14 AM ^
Mark was a tough man on kickoffs, as I recall. Most remarkably, he won the kicking MVP while being the last straight-on (i.e. non-soccer style) kicker in the league. A Tom Dempsey with two good feet!
February 9th, 2023 at 11:19 AM ^
And he did it in a 9-game season in which he missed THREE extra points!
I was alive for 1982 but have no memories of it --- I know it was a strike-shortened season but it's always struck me as VERY bizarre that a kicker somehow won the MVP.
16 teams made the playoffs that season (including the 4-5 Detroit Lions), so the 8-1 Redskins didn't make the playoffs simply because he made a couple game-winning kicks. He was a good kickoff man which helps with field position, but I'd argue a punter (Ray Guy was the man in that era) is even more valuable in the field position game.