Tom Dempsey passes

[Lee Elder]

Does anyone know the name of the SF 49er defender who was badly injured when he ran into Tom Dempsey's kicking foot during a game against the Rams? It was in Los Angeles, it had to be because I was there. I am pretty sure it was the 1975 game in LA because the 1976 game was a Monday Night game and my memory is that the incident happened during a daytime game. The defender had to be taken off the field on a stretcher and then had problems on the flight back to the Bay Area.

The oddity of course is that the 49ers defensive player was flagged for roughing the kicker.

I remember Dempsey as a courageous guy who overcame a great deal in order to play pro ball. I remember thinking way back then that I wanted to be able to say that I saw him play and I was sad today to learn of his passing.

Ralph McGill, who was knocked unconscious on November 9, 1975. His injury caused a delay of about 15 minutes.

Thanks for the note with McGill's ID. I was at the game and remember the delay because they had to take him off the field on a stretcher.

[Citizen]

During the same game as the 63-yarder, Dempsey also tied a record that will never be broken: shortest field goal (8 yards).

[SixtiesFan]

From what I have heard he was a very affable guy. He was given the "Bonehead of the Year" Award for his record-breaking 63-yard FG in 1970 which eventually wound up costing New Orleans the #1 overall pick in the 1971 NFL draft. I saw a picture of him somewhere accepting the award with a big smile on his face. Another interesting item is that he had to get a special rider from the league to use his specially made kicking shoe. That would make a good research project.

Tex Schramm, being his perpetual a-hole self, raised a stink (right after the 63-yarder) about the "unfair advantage" that Dempsey had...

If Tom Dempsey was the Cowboys kicker and had kicked the 63-yard FG to win a game during the Cowboys 1970 late season run to the Super Bowl, Tex Schramm would have hailed it "one of the greatest feats in sports history."

[Terry Baldshaw]

If Tom Dempsey was the Cowboys kicker and had kicked the 63-yard FG to win a game during the Cowboys 1970 late season run to the Super Bowl, Tex Schramm would have hailed it "one of the greatest feats in sports history."[/quote]


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