Pittsburgh Steelers fans are well aware of the magical leg of their current kicker, Chris Boswell. However, not everyone knows about the Steelers' former kicker, Gary Anderson, who played for the team from 1982 to 1994. During his time in Pittsburgh, Anderson became the all-time leading point scorer for the Steelers, a record he still holds with a total of 1,343 points.
Steelers.com
Former Steelers kicker, Gary Anderson kicks a field goal during a home game in Pittsburgh.
Anderson was an exceptionally reliable kicker, and his jersey number one has never been worn by another player since his departure. There is much speculation about why that jersey number seems to be unofficially retired. Many Steelers fans believe it is due to the organization's love and respect for Anderson.
Former Steelers offensive lineman, Craig Wolfley, who was Anderson's teammate both at Syracuse and in Pittsburgh, recently shared an incredible story about Anderson. On Tuesday, a popular Steelers social media account celebrated Anderson's 65th birthday, and Wolfley responded to the post with a remarkable tale about his longtime friend and teammate.
We were teammates at Syracuse U. Love this guy. At a tryout, he kicked a 72-yard FG with his right leg, and a 55-yarder with his LEFT leg! In jeans!...yes jeans! https://t.co/WwgDSylKVf
— Craig Wolfley 🏈🎙🎧🎤 (@CraigWolfley) July 16, 2024
As Wolfley detailed in his social media post, Anderson could kick the football with either leg. Kicking a 72-yard field goal with his right leg and then turning around to hit a 55-yard field goal with his left leg is an incredibly difficult feat, even for the best kickers in the world. This remarkable display of skill is a testament to Anderson's greatness as a college kicker. The fact that he accomplished this while wearing jeans makes the story even more extraordinary.
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Former Steelers kicker, Gary Anderson kicks a field goal against the Green Bay Packers.
Anderson played in 353 games over his career. He attempted 672 field goals and made 538 of them, achieving an 80% success rate. Over his 23 seasons in the NFL, Anderson only missed seven extra points, making 820 out of 827 attempts.
Although Anderson played for various teams, his career was built in Pittsburgh. With the Steelers, he missed only four extra points and made 78.2% of his field goals. Anderson was an exceptionally talented kicker, and Wolfley's story adds to his legendary status.
Steelers Appear To Have Quietly Retired Gary Anderson's Jersey Number
The topic of why Anderson's jersey #1 remains unworn has always intrigued fans. Steelers star wide receiver, George Pickens considered changing his number from 14 to 1 this offseason, but that was never a real possibility.
The Steelers cherish their traditions and are slow to change them. It seems unlikely that jersey number one will ever be worn again in Pittsburgh, a true testament to Anderson's enduring greatness. Anderson has the third-most points in NFL history.
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Steelers kicker Chris Boswell celebrates after hitting a field goal against the Bengals.
Boswell is expected to score his 1,000th point this season with the Steelers. According to Steel City Star, if Boswell maintains his current pace, he would tie Anderson's record in the 2037 season, illustrating how much the Steelers relied on Anderson's leg during his time in Pittsburgh. What makes this even crazier is as of late, the Steelers have relied on the leg of Boswell a lot. It does not seem likely that Boswell will ever break that record set by Anderson.
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