After four tries as a finalist, the "Great Dane" has finally earned a gold jacket.
Morten Andersen, the NFL's all-time leading scorer with 2,544 points who played in 382 games over a 25-year career, was finally elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
He joins Terrell Davis, Jason Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson, Kurt Warner, Kenny Easley and Jerry Jones in the Class of 2017.
Andersen played for six different teams during his 25 years in the NFL, including the New Orleans Saints (1982-94), Atlanta Falcons (1995-2000, 2006-07), New York Giants (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002-03) and Minnesota Vikings (2004).
Andersen earned his nickname, "The Great Dane," as he was born in Denmark and moved to the United States as a teenager. He's the first pure place-kicker to be inducted since former Chiefs' great Jan Stenerud in 1991 and only the second ever to earn enshrinement.
During his two seasons with the Chiefs, Andersen made 38 of 46 field goal attempts and scored 223 points.
Here's some more information on the impressive career of Andersen, via the Pro Football Hall of Fame website:
Morten Andersen
Kicker … 6-2, 218 … Michigan State … 1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings … 25 seasons, 382 games … Selected by Saints in 4th round (86th player overall) of 1982 draft … Began career in strike-shortened 1982 season … Scored more than 90 points in 22 seasons … Topped 100-point total 14 times in career … First 100-plus season, 1985, connected on 31 of 35 field goals, 27 extra point conversions, for 120 points, earning first of seven Pro Bowl selections … Also named All-Pro five times … After 13 years with Saints and ranking as team's all-time leading scorer, joined the Falcons in 1995 … Became Falcons career scoring leader … Spectacular 1995 season, scored a career-high 122 points, including then NFL-record for most 50-yard field goals in season (8) … Dec. 10, 1995, became first kicker to convert three field goals of 50 yards or longer in single game … Set NFL records for career points (2,544), most field goals (565), games played (382) … His 40 field goals of 50-plus yards most in NFL history at retirement … Named to two NFL All-Decade Teams (1980s and 1990s) ... Converted 565 of 709 field goal attempts, 849 of 859 point-after-attempts … Led NFL in field goals, 1987 … Led NFC in scoring, 1992 and topped all conference kickers in most field goals in 1985, 1987, and 1995 … Born August 19, 1960 in Struer, Denmark.
