Tony Zendejas
Encyclopedia
Tony Zendejas is a retired Mexican
professional athlete. He was a placekicker
in American football
, playing for the Los Angeles Express, Houston Oilers, the Los Angeles Rams, the Atlanta Falcons
and the San Francisco 49ers
.
, Mexico
, but raised in Chino, CA where he attended Chino High School excelling in soccer and football. From Chino High, Zendejas attended Santa Ana Community College and Mt.Sac and was eventually recruited by the University of Nevada at Reno head coach, Chris Ault. At UNR, Zendejas smashed kicking records which were eventually broken by younger brother Martin Zendejas.
for the Los Angeles Express. He joined the National Football League
when he was chosen by the Washington Redskins
in the first round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players
.
During his eleven seasons in the NFL Tony made 186 field goals in 252 attempts; he also scored 316 extra points for 874 points.
In 1991, he became the first kicker in NFL history to convert all of his field goal
attempts, going 17 for 17 (He did, however, miss one PAT
thereby allowing legendary kicker Gary Anderson to have the first "Perfect Season" (converting all FG attempts and PAT attempts) in 1998.)
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
professional athlete. He was a placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
in American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, playing for the Los Angeles Express, Houston Oilers, the Los Angeles Rams, the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
Early life
Zendejas was born in Curimeo, MichoacánMichoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, but raised in Chino, CA where he attended Chino High School excelling in soccer and football. From Chino High, Zendejas attended Santa Ana Community College and Mt.Sac and was eventually recruited by the University of Nevada at Reno head coach, Chris Ault. At UNR, Zendejas smashed kicking records which were eventually broken by younger brother Martin Zendejas.
Athletic career
Initially, he played in the United States Football LeagueUnited States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
for the Los Angeles Express. He joined the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
when he was chosen by the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in the first round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players
1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players
The National Football League held a draft of United States Football League and Canadian Football League players on June 5, 1984. In an attempt to head off a bidding war in its own ranks for USFL and CFL players. NFL teams chose 84 players from 224 available during the three-round selection meeting...
.
During his eleven seasons in the NFL Tony made 186 field goals in 252 attempts; he also scored 316 extra points for 874 points.
In 1991, he became the first kicker in NFL history to convert all of his field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
attempts, going 17 for 17 (He did, however, miss one PAT
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
thereby allowing legendary kicker Gary Anderson to have the first "Perfect Season" (converting all FG attempts and PAT attempts) in 1998.)