Inside the Loud House
Fansided

Syracuse Football: Top 10 players that should have their jerseys retired

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 28: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white) Dwight Freeney #93 of the San Diego Chargers looks on from the sidelines during his team's 33-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in their NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium on September 28, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 28: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white) Dwight Freeney #93 of the San Diego Chargers looks on from the sidelines during his team's 33-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in their NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium on September 28, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 11
Next
  • Played at Syracuse from 1978-81.
  • Voted a first-team All-American in 1981 from one selector and honorable mention from another.
  • Played for five different NFL teams (Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, and the Tennessee Titans) from 1982-2004.
  • Won Pro Football Weekly’s Golden Toe Award (presented to the league’s most outstanding kicker in 1998).

Wait for a second, a kicker should have his jersey retired? Yes. Gary Anderson isn’t your normal kicker, he was one of the best kickers not just in college football history, but NFL history.

Gary Anderson is in third place all-time on the NFL’s total field goals made list (538), has attempted the third most field goals in NFL history (672), has the fourth most extra points made (820), and fifth most extra points attempted (827).

Anderson is third in Syracuse history for most field goals made in a single season (18, 1981) and still holds the highest season percentage of field goals made (94.7 percent also in 1981).

Kickers don’t get nearly the same amount of love as other positions, but as the best placekicker in program history and a borderline Pro Football Hall of Famer, I think it’s clear that No. 1 should be hanging in the rafters.

Home/All-Time Lists