Max Zendejas

Last updated

Max Zendejas
No. 14, 8
Position: Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1963-09-02) September 2, 1963 (age 59)
Curimeo, Mexico
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:184 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school: Don Antonio Lugo (CA)
College: Arizona
NFL Draft: 1986  / Round: 4 / Pick: 100
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:27
Field goal attempts:49
Field goals made:34
Field goal %:69.4
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Maximmillian Javier Zendejas (born September 2, 1963) 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.

Contents

Early years

Zendejas, was born in Curimeo, Mexico as one of nine children. His parents moved the family to Chino, California when he was 6 years old. Soccer was the main sport for the Zendejas family.

He attended Don Antonio Lugo High School, where he followed his older brother Luis footsteps, playing both football and soccer. [1] He did not begin to play football until his senior year, because he wanted to wait for Luis to graduate. That season, he made 4 field goals of over 50 yards.

College career

Zendejas accepted a football scholarship from the University of Arizona where he became a four-year starter. As a freshman in 1982, he made a 48-yard field goal with 6 seconds remaining in a 16-13 win over then No. 9 University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. [2] The next year, he kicked a 45-yard field with 3 seconds left to beat Arizona State University 18-17 in Tempe, Arizona. [3]

In 1985, he was chosen as the team's most valuable player when he led the conference with 22 field goals and was second with 89 points (behind John Lee). He was also the Sun Bowl MVP and received honorable-mention All-American honors. [4]

Zendejas graduated after breaking almost every kicking record in school history, including career field goals (79), career points (360), career field goal percentage (.738), consecutive field goals made (11), season field goals (22) and career field goals over 50 yards (13). [5] He finished tied for third on the NCAA career field goal list (77), fourth on the career scoring list (360) and tied the record for consecutive games with a field goal (18). Some of his most impressive statistics were that with the game on the line he made 5-of-6 field goals and his field goal percentage from 50 yards or more was 61% (14-of-23).

In 1999, he was inducted into the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Zendejas was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (100th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft. It is the highest position where Dallas has ever drafted a placekicker, because at the time the team was concerned about Rafael Septien's recurring back problems. [6] A healthy Septien won the preseason competition and Zendejas was waived on September 1. [7]

Washington Redskins

On October 13, 1986, he was signed as a free agent by the Washington Redskins to take over Mark Moseley's role, who at the time was a 16-year veteran and the oldest kicker in the National Football League. [8] Although he helped the Redskins to qualify for the playoffs by making a 27-yard field goal with four seconds left in a 20-17 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, [9] after missing five field goals and five extra point conversions in nine games, he was replaced with Jess Atkinson and was put on the injured reserve list with one week left in the regular season. [10] On August 20, 1987, he was released after losing the preseason kicking competition with Atkinson. [11]

Green Bay Packers

After the players went on a strike on the third week of the 1987 season, those games were canceled (reducing the 16 game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. Zendejas was signed to be a part of the Green Bay Packers replacement team and was kept for the rest of the season, after making all of his 7 field goal attempts. [12] On November 11, he was activated to take over the kicking role in place of a struggling Al Del Greco. The team would later waive Del Greco on November 25.

In 1988, he tied a franchise record with four field goals in a victory over the Minnesota Vikings on October 16. He was released on October 25, after making 9 of 16 attempts and missing the game-tying field goal against the Washington Redskins with 11 seconds left in regulation. [13]

Indianapolis Colts

On July 24, 1990, he was signed by the Indianapolis Colts, who were protecting themselves in the case of an extended contract holdout by Dean Biasucci. [14] He was waived on August 21. [15]

London Monarchs

In 1991, he was drafted by the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football, [16] but was cut on March 17. [17]

Personal life

His brothers Luis and Joaquin also played professional football. [5] [18] His nephew, Alex Zendejas Jr. was also a placekicker for the University of Arizona. His cousins Tony Zendejas and Marty Zendejas also had success in college and professional football.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Rackers</span> American football player (born 1976)

Neil Wilmpom Rackers is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini. Rackers was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and also played for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Washington Redskins.

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

David Michael Rayner is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State. Rayner shares the NFL record for most teams played on with J. T. O'Sullivan, and Billy Cundiff; each has played for 11 teams.

<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.

Tyler Fredrickson is a former American football placekicker, and TV personality. He played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders in 3 preseason games during the 2007 season but was cut on September 2 before the start of the regular season. While with Oakland, he connected on a 49-yard field goal versus the Arizona Cardinals and handled all punting and placekicking duties during the team's final preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Luis Fernando Zendejas 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.

John Lee is a Korean former American football placekicker. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, where he was a two-time All-American. Lee was selected in the second round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 32nd overall pick. He played one season with the Cardinals and was the first Korean to play in the NFL. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garrett Hartley</span> American football player (born 1986)

Garrett Hartley is an American football placekicker who is a free agent. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008. Later that year he became the placekicker for the New Orleans Saints, for whom he set an NFL record for most consecutive successful field goals to start a career, and then became the first kicker in NFL history to convert three field goals of more than 40 yards in the Super Bowl. His Saints won Super Bowl XLIV, beating the Indianapolis Colts. He played college football at Oklahoma.

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.

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">David Buehler</span> American football player (born 1987)

David Jonathan Buehler is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was drafted by the Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Southern California.

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

Dustin Hopkins is an American football placekicker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Hopkins was a member of Washington Redskins / Football Team from 2015 until being released in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kai Forbath</span> American football player (born 1987)

Kai August Forbath is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Rams. He played college football at UCLA and was recognized as an All-American and the best college kicker in the country in 2009.

<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">Chandler Catanzaro</span> American football player (born 1991)

Chandler Catanzaro is a former American football placekicker. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and later played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, and Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Clemson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ty Long</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Tyler Long is an American professional football punter who is a free agent. He played college football for the University of Alabama at Birmingham and holds records for career field goals as well as the longest field goal in school history. He also has played for the Washington Redskins during the 2015 National Football League (NFL) preseason. Long was a high school classmate of musical artist Russ at Roswell High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Rose (American football)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Nick Rose is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Texas and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

Joaquin Zendejas Jr. is a Mexican former placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of La Verne.

References

  1. ↑ "Zendejas Sr. Wanted Sons to Play Soccer" . Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Arizona's last-play field goal beats Notre Dame" . Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Field Goal On Final Play Beats Sun Devils" . Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Pavlich named All-America" . Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  5. 1 2 John Moredich (August 6, 2007). "Zendejas (name familiar?) wants to kick for UA". The Tucson Citizen.
  6. ↑ "'Pokes Went Against the Book With Top Picks in 1986" . Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Septien Tells Uncertainty Until End" . Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Redskins Cut Mark Moseley". Los Angeles Times. October 14, 1986. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Redskins Gain Spot in Playoffs: Zendejas' Late Kick Trips Cardinals, 20-17". Los Angeles Times. December 1, 1986. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. December 17, 1986. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Release of Zendejas ends kicking battle" . Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Zendejas accepted by Pack" . Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Zendejas Is Given Boot by Green Bay". Los Angeles Times. October 26, 1988. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  14. ↑ "SIDELINES : Colts Sign Kicker Max Zendejas". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 1990. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  15. ↑ "NFL holdouts impact team and individuals" . Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  16. ↑ "WLAF finding football has a language of its own" . Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Zendejas cut again". Wilmington Morning Star. March 19, 1991. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Brothers who played Pro Football" (PDF). Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 20, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2008.
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.