Morten Andersen
The Great Dane who rewrote NFL kicking records, though never a Seattle Seahawk.
Morten Andersen, nicknamed "the Great Dane," is a Danish-American former professional football kicker who played in the NFL for 25 seasons, most notably with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. He never played for the Seattle Seahawks. Andersen holds the NFL record for regular season games played at 382 and ranks second in field goals (565) and points scored (2,544). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, one of only three exclusive kickers to receive the honor.
- Sport
- American Football (NFL)
- Primary Teams
- Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints
- Nationality
- Danish-American
- Position
- Placekicker
- Hall of Fame Status
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Morten Andersen's NFL career spanned from 1982 to 2007, entirely with teams other than the Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL draft and played there through 1994, earning six Pro Bowl selections and scoring 1,318 points. He then played for the Atlanta Falcons (1995–2000, 2006–2007), New York Giants (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002–2003), and Minnesota Vikings (2004). Andersen's connection to Seattle is nonexistent; his legacy belongs to New Orleans and Atlanta, where he set team scoring records and became the NFL's all-time leading scorer in 2006.
In Their Own Story
In the 1998 NFC Championship Game, Andersen kicked a game-winning field goal in overtime to beat the Minnesota Vikings and send the Falcons to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance. Earlier that season, in December 1995 against the Saints, he became the first player in NFL history to kick three field goals of over 50 yards in a single game. On 16 December 2006, he passed Gary Anderson to become the NFL's all-time leading scorer. Two days after his 47th birthday, on 30 December 2007, he became the oldest player to score 14 points in a game, kicking for the Falcons against the Seattle Seahawks.
Reader's Guide
Morten Andersen is not part of Seattle Seahawks history. The Seahawks have their own kicking legacy, including players like Josh Brown and Steven Hauschka, who contributed to the team's Super Bowl XLVIII victory. Andersen's records and Hall of Fame career are tied to the Saints and Falcons. Fans seeking accurate Seahawks lore should focus on players who actually wore the uniform. Andersen's most notable connection to Seattle is as an opponent: on 30 December 2007, he kicked four field goals against the Seahawks, becoming the oldest player to score 14 points in a game at 47 years, 133 days.
Did You Know?
- Andersen holds the NFL record for most regular season games played, with 382.
- He kicked a 60-yard field goal in 1991, tying for the second-longest in league history at the time.
- Andersen was the first player in NFL history to kick three field goals of over 50 yards in a single game (December 1995).
- He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, one of only three exclusive kickers to receive the honor.
- Andersen scored the only Falcons points in the first game back in the Louisiana Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, a 26-yard field goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Morten Andersen in relation to the Seattle Seahawks?
Morten Andersen was never a player for the Seattle Seahawks; he is actually a legendary placekicker who spent his career with the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. His inclusion in any official Seahawks history would be factually incorrect as he has no connection to the franchise.
What were Morten Andersen's primary achievements?
As a Danish-born kicker, he holds numerous NFL records for total career points, field goals made, and consecutive seasons with over 20 successful kicks. His consistent accuracy redefined the position during his era before he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Did Morten Andersen ever play a game against the Seahawks?
While he likely faced the Seahawks as an opponent during his long tenure with other teams, he never played for Seattle or contributed to their Super Bowl runs. His career timeline intersects with the league generally but not specifically within the organization's roster history.
Why might someone confuse Morten Andersen with a Seahawk?
Confusion may arise from general NFL knowledge searches where his name appears alongside other great kickers, leading fans to mistakenly assume he played for every major team. However, his legacy is strictly tied to Atlanta and New Orleans, not the Pacific Northwest.
Is there any part of Morten Andersen's story that involves Seattle?
No, there is no factual narrative linking Morten Andersen to the Seattle Seahawks or their stadium culture. Any story claiming he was a Seahawk player is entirely fictional and contradicts his established history as a Falcons and Saints icon.
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