Former Falcons kicker Morten Andersen is counting the days until he’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 in Canton, Ohio.
The finishing touches on his bust were made in April after he visited renowned sculptor Ben Hammond in Salt Lake City.
“I just had a great time with Ben and his family, pretty much spending a full day with him on the bust,” Andersen said. “It’s just incredible how this guy works and how this thing is done. It’s pretty amazing.”
Andersen was impressed with the details, expertise and artistry that went into making of the bust the will serve as his lasting presence in the hall after the enshrinement ceremony.
“It’s amazing how you can take a completely blank canvass and in the case of a sculpture you take a tub of clay and mold that into almost like a living and breathing human being,” said Andersen, who will be presented by his son, Sebastian. “That’s how talented these guys are and how detailed Ben was with it.”
Andersen was measured for this bust in Houston after receiving news of his selection the night before the Super Bowl in February.
“He puts life into the clay,” Andersen said. “It was casual. We played music. We broke for lunch. We just laughed and had a good time.”
NFL Network has shot the video of his speech as the enshrinees will no longer be given an open microphone to preach on for lengthy periods of time.
“Guys were getting long-winded with their speeches,” Andersen said.
Andersen will be enshrined along with former Georgia running back Terrell Davis, defensive end Jason Taylor, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, safety Kenny Easley and quarterback Kurt Warner. Also, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was selected as a contributor to the game.
Anderson played for the New Orleans Saints (1982-94), Falcons (1995-2000, 2006-07), New York Giants (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002-03) and Minnesota (2004).
Andersen will be remembered for kicking the field goal that sent the Falcons to their first Super Bowl. On Jan. 17, 1999, Andersen made a 38-yard field goal to give the Falcons a 30-27 overtime victory over Minnesota in the NFC Championship game.
Andersen, who scored 2,544 career points, holds the NFL record for field goals made (565) and most games played (382).
Only three kickers in league history have been inducted into the Hall: George Blanda, Lou Groza, and Jan Stenerud. Stenerud, the last kicker selected, was sent to Canton was in 1991.
Andersen, a six-time Pro Bowler while playing with the Saints, made the second longest field goal in NFL history (60 yards) in 1991.
Andersen made the NFL’s 1980 and 1990 All-Decade teams. He converted 565 of 709 field-goal attempts (79.7 percent), which are records for kicks made and attempted. He is the career scoring leader for the both the Saints and Falcons.
Any fans making the trip to Canton can get tickets to the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at http://www.profootballhof.com/tickets/.
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