Former Saints Kicker Morten Andersen named Hall of Fame Finalist

Feb 2, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Former NFL player Morten Andersen poses with a helmet during the Taste of the NFL at the New Orleans Convention Center prior to the Super Bowl XLVII. The Taste of the NFL is a non-profit organization dedicated to kicking hunger in America by rallying the countrys best chefs and the NFLs greatest to support hunger relief. Over the past 22 years, the Taste of the NFL has distributed more than $14 million to food banks through its national Super Bowl event called The Party with a Purpose. Additional funds are raised through local events held with teams in many NFL markets throughout the year. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Former New Orleans Saints kicker Morten Andersen has once again been selected as a finalist for the Hall of Fame Class of 2015.

Andersen, or a.k.a. ‘Mr. Automatic’ for the tenured Saints fans, is one of 15 Modern-Era finalists.

Morten Andersen’s career began in 1982, when he was drafted in the 4th round (#86 Overall) of the 1982 Draft from Michigan State. If you can believe it, Andersen’s career started off on the wrong foot, literally. On the opening kickoff of the 1982 season, Andersen twisted his ankle, and would be out for eight weeks.

Andersen would play 12 seasons with the Saints, and was released after the 1994 season. Andersen would join the Atlanta Falcons, where he played from 1995-2000. He then bounced around a few spots, playing with the New York Giants (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002-2003), and Minnesota Vikings (2004). Andersen returned to the Falcons for 2006-2007, and would officially retire on December 8, 2008.

Andersen was a six-time Pro Bowler with the Saints (seven-time overall), and booted a 60-yard field goal in 1991, which at the time was the second longest field goal in NFL History since Tom Dempsey’s 63-yarder.

Andersen has a long list of accomplishments in his career. Some of the good ones:

• 6x All-Pro (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1995)
• NFL 1980′s All-Decade Team
• NFL 1990′s All-Decade Team
• Hall of Fames: New Orleans Saints, Louisiana Sports, Greater New Orleans, Michigan State Athletics
• 79.7% Career Accuracy (565/709) – Most Field Goals Made & Attempted
• 2,544 Career Points Scored

Andersen could become the 10th Saints player in franchise history to be inducted in the Hall of Fame. He would join (in descending order): Willie Roaf (2012), Rickey Jackson (2010), Hank Stram (2003), Tom Fears/Jim Finks (1995), Earl Campbell (1991), Mike Ditka (1988), Doug Atkins (1982), and Jim Taylor (1976).

Other finalists included: Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Don Coryell, Terrell Davis, Tony Dungy, Kevin Greene, Charles Haley, Marvin Harrison, Jimmy Johnson, John Lynch, Orlando Pace, Bill Polian, Junior Seau, Will Shields, Mick Tingelhoff, Kurt Warner, and Ron Wolf.

The Hall of Fame Class will be announced on January 31, 2015.