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Mark Moseley

 

Career Highlights And Awards

• NFL Most Valuable Player 1982
• Super Bowl Winner (1983)
• Two Super Bowl Appearances (1983, 1984)
• Two-time Pro Bowl selection (1979, 1982)
• First team All Pro 1982
• UPI NFC Player of the Year 1982
• NFL Scoring Leader (1983)
• Voted one of the 70 Greatest Redskins
• Voted to the Washington Ring of Fame

Kicking It Old School

Mark Moseley played in the National Football League for 16 seasons. Moseley is best known for his time with the Washington Redskins, where he became the first and only placekicker in NFL history to be named the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Moseley was born on March 12, 1948, in Laneville, Texas. He grew up in Livingstone, Texas and went to Livingstone High School.

He started college at Texas A&M in 1965, before moving to Stephen F. Austin State University in 1967. He played quarterback at both schools befoe making the move to kicker in his senior season. He set Lone Star conference records for most field goals in a season, and most points in a game. He was also a two-time All-Lone Star Conference selection.

He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 14th round – 346th overall – in 1970. He only played for the Eagles for one season before moving to the Houston Oilers in 1971. Moseley played for the Oilers for two seasons but was waived following the 1972 season.

He did not play at all in the 1973 season. He installed septic systems and coached high school sports. He sent letters to NFL teams looking for a job.

Washington Bound

In 1974, the Washington signed him as a free agent.

Moseley struggled in his first season with the Redskins, making just 18 of his 30 field goal attempts.

Over the next several seasons, Moseley started to settle in to his role, but wasn’t exactly setting the league on fire. It wasn’t until 1979 when he really started to make his mark. That year he finished 25 of 33 which were both top NFL marks at the time. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection that year and his 75.8% success rate was by far the best of his career up to that point.

Moseley’s finest season came in 1982, when he became the first kicker in NFL history to be named the league’s MVP.

That year, Moseley made 20 of 21 field goal attempts (95.2%), including a game-winning kick in overtime against the New York Giants in the final game of the regular season. Moseley’s accuracy and clutch performances helped lead the Redskins to an 8-1 record in a strike-shortened season.

Super Bowl Time

Moseley actually struggled in the postseason missing four field goals in Washington’s first two playoff games. He put it all together when it mattered most though, and kicked two field goals and three extra points against the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. Moseley and Washington captured their first ever Super Bowl.

The following season, he had 47 attempts which was by far the most of his career. He also led the league in scoring with 161 points. He kicked the game winning field goal in the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers to seal a 24-21 victory, despite missing four times previously in the game.

He also kicked a field goal in Super Bowl XVIII, but the Redskins fell to the Los Angeles Raiders 38-9.

He would only play for Washington for another season and a half. They released the 38-year old kicker after six games. He caught on with the Cleveland Browns and played what would be the last four games of his career.

Mark was the last of the straight on kickers. The soccer style of kicking where the kicker approaches the ball on an angle has been the norm since the 1960’s. Dick Borgognone was a straight on kicker in 1995, but he played just two games. The style basically ended with Moseley.

Career Numbers

He played for the Redskins for 13 seasons. He retired as Washington’s all time leading scorer with 1207 points. He finished his 213 game career with 300 of 457 field goals kicked (65.6%). Those 300 field goals were an NFL record at the time of his retirement. He also led the league in field goals in a season, four separate times.

He was inducted into the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame in 2000, and named to the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team. He was also inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

Life Away From Football

After retiring from football, Moseley remained involved in the sport. He worked as a coach and a consultant, helping young players develop their kicking skills. Moseley also became an entrepreneur, starting several successful businesses over the years.

He owned two restaurants in Virginia and ultimately became the director of franchising for Five Guys restaurants.

He has five children and thirteen grand children.