John Kasay
Encyclopedia
John David Kasay is an American football
kicker
for the New Orleans Saints
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks
in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Georgia
. He played for the Carolina Panthers
for 16 seasons from 1995–2010.
in Athens, Georgia
, where he was a soccer stand-out and football kicker/punter He was an all-state selection with 37 career field goals, including a 54-yarder.
in 1991, and was drafted in the 4th round in 1991 by the Seattle Seahawks
. During his tenure, he led the Seahawks in scoring all four years, and left the team with the highest field goal percentage in team history. The Panthers signed him as a free agent prior to the team's debut in the 1995 NFL season
.
Super Bowl XXXVIII
was bittersweet for Kasay. Although he converted a 50-yard field goal and made both extra points, his final kickoff went out of bounds, incurring an illegal procedure penalty that placed the ball on the 40. This assisted the New England Patriots
on their drive for the winning field goal.
Kasay continued to play for the Panthers through the 2010 season. On July 28, 2011, he was released by Carolina. He was the last remaining player left from the Panthers' 1995 inaugural season.
The New Orleans Saints
signed Kasay on August 30, 2011 after an injury to their starting kicker Garrett Hartley
during a preseason game. According to Al Michaels during the Thursday Night Football broadcast against the Green Bay Packers
on September 8, 2011, Kasay was at a "back-to-school" event when he received a phone call from the Saints wishing to sign him.
, and he was awarded his only Pro Bowl appearance as a result. His record was broken three years later, however, by Olindo Mare
, who booted 39 field goals. That record was later broken by Neil Rackers
, who made 42 field goals in 2005.
Kasay holds virtually every Panther kicking record, and is also the all-time points leader of the Panthers.
Kasay also holds many NFL records as a placekicker. He is second all-time for field goals made from 50+ yards (44) made behind only Jason Hanson
(46). and is the only person to complete four field goals from 46+ yards in a single game.
Kasay hit his 400th field goal on December 6, 2009 in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. He is only the 7th player in NFL history to accomplish that.
Kasay was the longest tenured player to play for the Panthers.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
kicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft
1991 NFL Draft
The 1991 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 21–22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, New York...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
. He played for the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
for 16 seasons from 1995–2010.
High school years
Kasay attended Clarke Central High SchoolClarke Central High School
Clarke Central High School is located in Athens, Georgia. The school was created in 1970 by the merger of two high schools, Athens High School and Burney-Harris High School , as a result of desegregation....
in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, where he was a soccer stand-out and football kicker/punter He was an all-state selection with 37 career field goals, including a 54-yarder.
College and pro career
Kasay graduated from the University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in 1991, and was drafted in the 4th round in 1991 by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. During his tenure, he led the Seahawks in scoring all four years, and left the team with the highest field goal percentage in team history. The Panthers signed him as a free agent prior to the team's debut in the 1995 NFL season
1995 NFL season
The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
.
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
was bittersweet for Kasay. Although he converted a 50-yard field goal and made both extra points, his final kickoff went out of bounds, incurring an illegal procedure penalty that placed the ball on the 40. This assisted the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
on their drive for the winning field goal.
Kasay continued to play for the Panthers through the 2010 season. On July 28, 2011, he was released by Carolina. He was the last remaining player left from the Panthers' 1995 inaugural season.
The New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
signed Kasay on August 30, 2011 after an injury to their starting kicker Garrett Hartley
Garrett Hartley
Garrett Hartley is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
during a preseason game. According to Al Michaels during the Thursday Night Football broadcast against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
on September 8, 2011, Kasay was at a "back-to-school" event when he received a phone call from the Saints wishing to sign him.
Awards and Records
Kasay formerly held the record for most field goals in a single season with 37, which he achieved during the 1996 NFL Season1996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
, and he was awarded his only Pro Bowl appearance as a result. His record was broken three years later, however, by Olindo Mare
Olindo Mare
Olindo Franco Mare is an American football placekicker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
, who booted 39 field goals. That record was later broken by Neil Rackers
Neil Rackers
Neil William Rackers is an American football placekicker for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
, who made 42 field goals in 2005.
Kasay holds virtually every Panther kicking record, and is also the all-time points leader of the Panthers.
Kasay also holds many NFL records as a placekicker. He is second all-time for field goals made from 50+ yards (44) made behind only Jason Hanson
Jason Hanson
Jason Douglas Hanson is an American football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League, where he has spent his entire 20 year career. He was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft...
(46). and is the only person to complete four field goals from 46+ yards in a single game.
Kasay hit his 400th field goal on December 6, 2009 in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. He is only the 7th player in NFL history to accomplish that.
Kasay was the longest tenured player to play for the Panthers.