Morten Andersen

Sport: Football

Induction Year: 2011

Dubbed the “Great Dane,” the native of Copenhagen was certainly that as he made six Pro Bowl appearances in 13 seasons with the New Orleans Saints (1982-94) to highlight his amazing 25-year pro career, one season shy of the NFL’s all-time record of 26 by George Blanda. He made the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1980s and the 1990s. In his time with the Saints, Andersen set franchise records with 1,318 points, 302 field goals and 412 PATs. He made 77.6 percent of his field-goal attempts (302 of 389) and had a long of 60 yards. He still holds the club record for games played with 196.

Known for his accuracy and game-winning kicks after joining the team as a fourth-round draft pick in 1982, he was 31-of-35 on field goals in 1985 and 26-of-30 in ’86. He scored 100-plus points nine times in his career with the Saints, including a club-record 121 in 1987 when they went to the playoffs for the first time in club history. His six Pro Bowl trips tie for second in club history. Andersen, who made 40 of 84 field-goal tries from 50 yards and out, was released by the Saints in 1995 and went on to play 12 more years with four teams. The three-time first-team All-Pro pick holds NFL career records in field goals made (565), attempts (709), points (2,544) and games played (382). He also ranks second in extra points made (849) and attempts (859) and set a league mark for consecutive games scoring (360) — 97 more than Jason Elam (263). He made 25 of 28 field-goal attempts at the age of 47 with Atlanta in 2007, earning a seventh Pro Bowl appearance.

Andersen is a member of the Saints Hall of Fame and the Walter Camp All-Century Team for college football for his career at Michigan State.