The wait for Morten Anderson is now finally over.
The player who’s 38-yard field goal sent the Atlanta Falcons to their first Super Bowl trip in 1999 waited five years and four trips to the finals before selected to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
“Good evening, Canton Ohio. Good morning, Denmark,” Andersen said after kissing his bronzed bust.
He started out discussing how he ended up in Indianapolis at Ben E. Davis High as a foreign exchange student for Copenhagen, Denmark.
“I have a deep appreciate and respect for what I discovered here in the United States of America,” Andersen said.
Andersen landed in Indianapolis on his 17th birthday. He played soccer, handball and participated in gymnastics. He knew nothing about football.
Two days after arriving, the whole team lined up to watch his tryout.
“Let’s get this over, so I can field a soccer field,” Andersen said he was thinking.
After the players got in field goal formation. He received some instruction.
“Coach (Bob) Wilbur whispered in my ear, ‘just kick the shit out of it,’ ” Andersen said. “This singular event changed my life forever.”
Andersen would later go on to play in college at Michigan State before being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1982.
Andersen went on to play in more games (382) and scored more points (2,544) and kick more field goals (565) than any player in the NFL history. In addition to be named to the all-decades teams of the 1980s and 1990s, he was voted to seven Pro Bowls.
He played for the Saints (1982-94), Atlanta (1995-2000), New York Giants (2001), Kansas City (2002-03), Minnesota (2004) and Atlanta (2006-07).
“The number of people who’ve been a part of my football life is staggering,” Andersen said.
He lauded former Saints coach Bum Phillips and the “kicks for kids” program that raise a lot of money for children’s hospital in New Orleans.
“I miss you Bum,” Andersen said.
Andersen remembered his days with Saints and thanked the Falcons for the picking him up twice.
“I have a deep love for the city of New Orleans and its football team,” Andersen said. “I have great admiration of the spirit of the people of New Orleans. They love life and stay positive. I will always be a part of New Orleans and a Saint.
“My profound gratitude to the Falcons, Giants, Vikings and the Chiefs for allowing me to continue my American Dream.”
Andersen wanted to keep kicking after the 2005 season, but was out of football for 20 months. He was 76 points away from being the game’s all-time leading scorer and he wanted to keep playing.
“I thank Arthur Blank and the Falcons for bringing me back in 2006,” Andersen said.
In early Oct. 2006, the Falcons kicker had a bad day.
“(Andersen told his friend) I’m switching to water now because the phone is going to ring soon,” Andersen said. “Shortly after the game, the phone did ring. There I was. 46 years old in Flowery Branch facing four flat bullies half my age…I completed my mission and became the all-time leading scoring in the history of the game. The lesson is simple. Bring your will to everything you are doing.”
A picture of Andersen and “Big” Chuck Smith was up on the giant screen during a portion of his crisp speech.
“I valued the long snapper and the holder,” Andersen said.
Andersen became the first kicker inducted since Jan Stenerud was inducted in 1992.
“I have great company,” Stenerud said.
Andersen thanked the slew of kickers who were in the crowd.
“The position of the specialist is important, relevant and undeniable,” Andersen said. “Hopefully more will find their way into the hall of fame.”
He mother and father encouraged him and his twin brother Jakob to travel the world. He spoke fondly of his wife Jennifer. They’ve been married for 27 years.
“You’ve always been the light and not the shadow,” Andersen said. “You are rare in so many ways. I knew I out-kicked the coverage when I met you.”
Andersen and his fellow 2017 enshrinees – Terrell Davis, Kenny Easley, Jerry Jones, Jason Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson and Kurt Warner – have been celebrated all weekend.
Taylor credited Falcons coach Dan Quinn and Alabama coach Nick Saban with helping him win the defensive player of the year in 2006. Taylor said Quinn and Saban came up with “innovative” ways utilize his talents.
Quinn, with the Falcons off from practice, flew in for the ceremony.
“I honestly can’t believe I’m here,” Taylor said. “In 1992, I was at the University of Akron, just 20 miles north of here. Twenty miles away! Might as well have been a million.
“Back then, I couldn’t fathom that over the next two decades, step by step, I’d travel those 20 miles to be on this stage, wearing this jacket. Twenty years to travel 20 miles, but it was worth every bit of it.”
Easley used part of his speech to address social injustices in the country. “Black Lives matter and All Lives Matter, too,” Easley said. He pleaded for the attacks on young black men to stop.
Andersen (1995-2000, 2006-07) joined Claude Humphrey (1968-74, 76-78) and Deion Sanders (1989-93) as long-time Falcons in the shrine. Tommy McDonald (1967), Brett Favre (1991), Eric Dickerson (1993) and Chris Doleman (1994-95) played for the Falcons, but earned their gold jackets while playing for other teams.
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