Gary Anderson (placekicker)

Gary Anderson (born July 16, 1959) is a retired National Football League (NFL) placekicker. He is notable for his longevity and accuracy, holding several NFL records during his career.

Anderson was born in Parys, South Africa, and moved to the United States as a teenager. He attended Syracuse University, where he played college football. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 1982 NFL Draft.

Throughout his 23-season NFL career, Anderson played for the Buffalo Bills (1982-1995), the Cincinnati Bengals (1995-1996), the San Francisco 49ers (1997), the Minnesota Vikings (1998-2000), the Tennessee Titans (2001-2002), and the Atlanta Falcons (2003-2004).

Anderson's career highlights include:

• NFL Records: He held the NFL record for most points scored and most field goals made upon retirement. These records have since been surpassed.
• Minnesota Miracle Miss: He is known for missing a potential game-winning field goal in the 1998 NFC Championship game against the Atlanta Falcons while playing for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings ultimately lost the game in overtime. Despite this significant miss, Anderson had a stellar season for the Vikings, going 35 for 38 on field goals before that kick.
• Pro Bowl Selections: Anderson was selected to the Pro Bowl four times (1983, 1985, 1998, 2003).
• All-Pro Honors: He was named First-Team All-Pro in 1998.

Anderson's long and successful career cemented his legacy as one of the most reliable and accomplished kickers in NFL history, despite the infamous miss late in his career. He retired after the 2004 season.