Luis Zendejas

Last updated
Luis Zendejas
No. 6, 8
Position: Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1961-10-22) October 22, 1961 (age 61)
Curimeo, Michoacan, Mexico
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school: Don Antonio Lugo (CA)
College: Arizona State
Undrafted: 1985
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:31
Field goals:37
Field goal attempts:55
Field goal %:67.3
Longest field goal:50
Career Arena statistics
Games played:37
Field goals:47
Field goal attempts:100
Field goal %:47.0
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR  ·  ArenaFan.com

Luis Fernando Zendejas (born October 22, 1961) is a Mexican former American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Arena Football League (AFL). He later played professionally in the United States Football League (USFL), and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Arizona State University.

Contents

Early years

Zendejas, was born in Curimeo, Michoacan, Mexico as one of nine children to Joaquin, and Raquel Zendejas. His parents moved the family to Chino, California when he was eight years old. In moving from Michoacan, he would be joining his uncle, Genaro's family, which included his cousins, and future place kickers Tony Zendejas and Martin Zendejas. Genaro Zendejas had just migrated his family to Chino, California from Curimeo, Michoacan, Mexico. Soccer was the main sport in the Zendejas family.

He attended Don Antonio Lugo High School, where he was initially a midfielder with the soccer team. He was called "Z" by his teammates. Football head coach Jack Coppes asked him to try out for the team and he ended up playing both sports. As a freshman, he converted 5 field goals and 19 extra point attempts. As a sophomore, he tied his cousin Tony, for the second longest field goal (53 yards) in CIF history.

As a senior, he became the school's first four-year varsity letterman, while helping to win its first California Interscholastic Federation football title. He received All-CIF honors at the end of the season. [1]

College career

Zendejas accepted a football scholarship from Arizona State University. He became a starter at place kicker as a freshman.

As a junior in 1983, he made a school record 28 field goals for 112 points, receiving first-team All-Pac-10 and consensus first-team All-American honors. As a senior in 1984, he slumped early in the season, but recovered to earn second-team All-Pac-10 honors.

He finished his college career making 81 out of 108 field goals (75%) and 137 out of 138 extra points (99.3%). He set the then-NCAA Division I career scoring record of 368 points, and most of the school's kicking records.

In 1995, he was inducted into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame. [2]

Professional career

Arizona Outlaws

Zendejas was selected in the 1985 USFL Territorial Draft by the Arizona Outlaws of the United States Football League. On January 23, 1985, he was signed to a contract. [3] He made 72% (24-33) of his field goals and 87% (36-41) of his extra points as a rookie. In 1986, the team folded along with the rest of the league.

Minnesota Vikings

In 1986, he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings, who were looking for a replacement for the recently retired Jan Stenerud. [4] On August 21, he was released after losing the kicking competition against Chuck Nelson.

Dallas Cowboys (first stint)

In 1987, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, who were looking for a replacement for Rafael Septién. On September 1, he was waived after losing the kicking competition to Roger Ruzek. [5] After the players went on a strike on the third week of the season, those contests were canceled (reducing the 16-game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. In September, he was re-signed to be a part of the Cowboys replacement team, which was given the mock name "Rhinestone Cowboys" by the media. He played in two games, where he made 3 out of 4 field goals and all 10 extra point attempts, including a team season-long 50-yard field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was replaced with Kerry Brady in the game against the Washington Redskins. On October 27, he was placed on the injured reserve list with an ankle injury. [6] He was released 3 weeks later.

On July 22, 1988, he was re-signed by the Cowboys who wanted protect themselves in case Ruzek's contract holdout extended into the regular season. [7] Zendejas, who made a 47-yard field goal but missed two 49-yarders in the preseason, was released when Ruzek rejoined the team on September 13. [8]

Philadelphia Eagles

On September 27, 1988, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles after Dean Dorsey and Dale Dawson struggled in the first four games of the year. [9] In the twelfth game against the New York Giants, he had a field goal blocked with 8:50 left in overtime, that was returned by teammate Clyde Simmons for a 15-yard game winning touchdown. [10] He was a part of the playoff game against the Chicago Bears famously known as the "Fog Bowl", where he made all of the Eagles' points (4 field goals) in the 12–20 loss.

In 1989, he made four field goals against the San Francisco 49ers. On October 30, he was released after he missed four of seven field-goal attempts, including a 41-yarder in the Eagles' 28–24 win against the Denver Broncos. Steve DeLine was signed to take his place. [11]

Dallas Cowboys (second stint)

On November 7, 1989, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys to replace a struggling Ruzek. On November 22, Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson alleged that Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan had taken out a "bounty" on two Cowboys players—then-current Dallas (and former Philadelphia) placekicker Zendejas and quarterback Troy Aikman in a game dubbed "Bounty Bowl" played on Thanksgiving Day at Texas Stadium. [12] [13] Zendejas was targeted by linebacker Jessie Small on the second-half kickoff, where Zendejas was penalized on the play for a low block. He later reported to the media that he taped a telephone conversation with Eagles special teams coach Al Roberts without telling Roberts that would prove the accusation. [14] After a two-week investigation, the league office issued a statement that they found the Eagles innocent of all charges.

Zendejas was released on August 26, 1990, after losing a kicking competition against Ken Willis.

Arizona Rattlers

He also played for the Arena Football League's Arizona Rattlers from 1992 to 1995. He was a part of the ArenaBowl VIII championship team in 1994. He is the only kicker in Rattlers history to drop-kick extra points for two points.

Birmingham Barracudas

Zendejas finished his career with the Birmingham Barracudas of the Canadian Football League, where he kicked for 144 points in a single season in 1995.

Personal life

Luis' brothers, Max and Joaquin, were also kickers in the NFL. His cousin Tony was a kicker in the NFL and Marty in the AFL. [15] Zendejas has worked as senior director of community relations for the Arizona Cardinals since 2001. His son Cristian was the kicker for the Arizona State University football team.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Akers</span> American football player (born 1974)

David Roy Akers is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. He began his career in 1998 with the Washington Redskins after not making the main roster of the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. The following year, he signed with the Eagles, where he spent 12 seasons. Akers was also a member of the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions before retiring in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martín Gramática</span> Argentine-born gridiron football player (born 1975)

Martín Gramática is an Argentine-born former American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at Kansas State University where was recognized twice as an All-American and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Nugent</span> American football player (born 1982)

Michael Nugent is a former American football placekicker. He played college football for Ohio State University, and was twice recognized as a consensus All-American. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, and New England Patriots.

The Bounty Bowl was the name given to two NFL games held in 1989 between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. The first, a 1989 Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas, was noted for allegations that the Eagles put a $200 bounty on Cowboys kicker Luis Zendejas, who had been cut by Philadelphia earlier that season. The second was a rematch held two weeks later in Philadelphia. The Eagles, who were heavy favorites to win both games, swept the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Zendejas</span> Mexico-born American football player (born 1960)

Tony Zendejas is a Mexican-American former NFL placekicker. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League (USFL). After the USFL folded, he was selected in the first round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental draft by the Washington Redskins.

José Rafael Septién Michel is a Mexican-American former placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Edward Peter Murray is a Canadian former professional football player who was a kicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins. He played college football at Tulane University.

Maximmillian Javier Zendejas is a Mexican former placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers. He played college football at the University of Arizona.

Christopher Donald Boniol is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears. He won Super Bowl XXX with the Cowboys over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1996, he tied the NFL record for most field goals in a game with seven. He played college football at Louisiana Tech University.

Efrén Herrera is a Mexican-American former placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills. He also was a member of the Oklahoma Outlaws in the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Roger Brian Ruzek is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. He also was a member of the New Jersey Generals in the United States Football League. He played college football at Weber State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Folk</span> American football player (born 1984)

Nicholas Alexander Folk is an American football placekicker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arizona, where he received first-team All-Pac-10 honors, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. During his three seasons with the Cowboys, Folk was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. He played his next seven seasons as a member of the New York Jets, becoming the franchise's second-leading scorer. Following an unsuccessful stint on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Folk spent a year away from football before pursuing a comeback in 2019 with the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). Folk returned to the NFL the same year as a member of the Patriots and led the league in scoring during the 2021 season.

Robert Kenneth Willis II is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New York Giants. He played college football at the University of Kentucky.

Kerry Patrick Brady is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Bailey (American football)</span> American football player (born 1988)

Dan Bailey is a former American football placekicker. Bailey grew up in the Oklahoma City area and played college football at Oklahoma State University. Following the 2011 NFL Draft, Bailey signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. He spent seven years in Dallas, where he became the franchise's all-time leader in field goals made. He played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2018 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blair Walsh</span> American football player (born 1990)

Blair Richard Walsh is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). Walsh played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the Vikings in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Maher (American football)</span> American football player (born 1989)

Brett Maher is an American football placekicker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He played college football at Nebraska. He has also been a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Ottawa Redblacks, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders, Houston Texans, and Arizona Cardinals.

Jonathan David Baker is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. He also was a member of the Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Arizona State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cristian Zendejas</span> American football player (born 1999)

Cristian Zendejas is an American football kicker who currently plays college football for Arizona State.

Cedric Oglesby is an American former football placekicker who played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football for the South Carolina State Bulldogs and also had stints in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers. He was one of the first African-American kickers in the NFL.

References

  1. ↑ "Zendejas drives kids toward football -- the NFL kind" . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Sun Devil Hall of Fame (Football)" . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Kicker Luis Zendejas of Arizona State, the highest scorer..." Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Jerry Burns will leave the obscurity of the press..." Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Newly-signed Saint ready for real action" . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  6. ↑ "For the Record" . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Negotiations between the Dallas Cowboys and hold out kicker..." Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  8. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Dallas Kicker Is Cut" . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Sports People; Eagles Get Kicker" . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Clyde Simmons raced 15 yards after teammate Luis Zendejas..." Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Eagles release Zendejas, sign DeLine" . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  12. ↑ Anderson, Dave (November 26, 1989). "Sports of The Times – The Backfire From Buddy Ryan's 'Bounties'". NYTimes.com. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  13. ↑ "17 fined for 'Bounty Bowl'". Boca Raton News. Associated Press. December 22, 1989. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Dallas place kicker Luis Zendejas, who two weeks ago..." Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  15. ↑ "6 Zendejas Cousins Are Star Kickers" . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.