John Smith (American football)
No. 1 | |
Date of birth | December 30, 1949 |
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Place of birth | Leafield, Oxfordshire, England |
Career information | |
Status | Retired- Coaches soccer (WOBsters) |
Position(s) | Placekicker |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
Weight | 186 lb (84 kg) |
College | Southampton |
NFL draft | 1974 / Round: |
Career history | |
As player | |
1973 | New England Colonials (ACFL) |
1974-1983 | New England Patriots |
Career highlights and awards | |
Pro Bowls | 1980 |
Awards | Named to Patriots All Decade Team for 1970's |
Records | Currently the number three leading scorer in Patriots history |
Career stats | |
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John Michael Smith (born 30 December 1949) is an English-born retired American football placekicker. He made his professional debut with the New England Patriots in 1974, remaining with the team until 1983.
Early years
John Smith trained as a teacher at King Alfred's College, Winchester in England between 1968 and 1971. After teaching for a year, he moved to the United States. He had not played American Football before but was an outstanding all-round sportsman and superb soccer player so he approached the New England Patriots and asked for a trial as a placekicker. New England saw his potential and he was sent to spend his 1973 season in the Atlantic Coast Football League before re-signing with the Patriots in 1974.[1]
The Snowplow Game and other significant moments
Smith is perhaps most famous for kicking the only points in the Snowplow Game, played 12 December 1982 in a snow storm at Foxboro Stadium. Convict Mark Henderson, released for a weekend work program, cleared the way with his snowplow for Smith to beat the Miami Dolphins and enter football lore. Two years earlier against Miami on 8 December 1980, Smith was getting ready to attempt a potential game-winning field goal when Howard Cosell announced to the Monday Night Football television audience that John Lennon (who had appeared on MNF six years before as a guest in the booth) had just been assassinated. (Smith's kick was blocked, however, and Miami won the game in overtime 16-13.)[2][3]
Smith led the NFL in scoring in 1979 and 1980. In 1982, Smith injured his right knee (on his non-kicking leg) and underwent arthroscopic surgery; he retired after the 1983 season as the second-highest scoring player in Patriots history, behind Gino Cappelletti.[4]
Post-retirement
Smith currently runs The John Smith Sports Center, an indoor sports complex in Milford, Massachusetts. Smith runs JSSA Magic (John Smith Soccer Academy), a premier soccer club for ages 8–18. He also runs John Smith's #1 Soccer School, a soccer camp held at various New England schools and colleges each summer.[5]
Personal life
Smith currently lives in Dover, Massachusetts, with his wife Vivienne. Smith has four children, and his oldest daughter, Felicity Smith-Day, directs John Smith Soccer. She is a former college All-American. She also played professionally for Arsenal L.F.C.[5]
References
- ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/news/story?id=4584811
- ↑ Ausiello, Jeff (December 5, 2010). "Ex-Pats kicker forever linked to Lennon". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
- ↑ ESPN Outside The Lines, 30th Anniversary of John Lennon Murder
- ↑
- 1 2 "Smith-Day will coach girls soccer" - WickedLocal.com
External links
- Smith's profile at the New England Patriots' official website at the Wayback Machine (archived August 6, 2007)
- John Smith Sports official website