Efren Herrera

Efren Herrera (born July 30, 1951 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) is a former placekicker in the National Football League from 1974–1982. After a college career at the University of California, Los Angeles, Herrera kicked for the Dallas Cowboys in 1974 and 1976–1977. Herrera was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1977 season. He was a part of the Cowboys' Super Bowl XII-winning team. He later kicked for the Seattle Seahawks and the Oklahoma Outlaws of the United States Football League.

Early years
At age 15, his family moved to the United States from Guadalajara, Mexico. He attended La Puente High School and practiced soccer with no knowledge about football, until he was spotted kicking a basketball into a soccer goal. He eventually joined the football team, playing as a placekicker and safety.

Herrera accepted a scholarship to UCLA where he was a midfielder for the soccer team and a placekicker for the football team.

In 1971 against the University of Washington, he set the school record for made field goals (4) in one game. In the opening game of the 1972 season, he kicked the game-winning field goal, with 20 seconds left, in UCLA's 20–17 upset of two-time defending national champion Nebraska. In 1973 he broke the school's PATs attempted (64) and made (61) record. As a senior in 1974 he led the nation in scoring.

During his career, the UCLA Bruins football team regularly finished among the leaders in the nation in scoring, which helped him leave as the school and NCAA career leader in scoring with 368 points (1971-1974). He also set the career record for PATs attempted (127) and made (121).

Detroit Lions
Herrera was drafted in the seventh round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. On September 12, 1974 he was released before the season started.

Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys signed him as a free agent after the third game of the 1974 season.

In 1977 he was an All-Pro selection, the NFL second leading scorer (93 points) and made the 1978 Pro Bowl at the end of the season. He also helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XII, while setting the record for most field goals attempted (5).

On August 14, 1978 he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for an undisclosed draft choice, because of a contract dispute. The Cowboys replaced him with Rafael Septien.

Seattle Seahawks
In Seattle he became a fan favorite as part of a special teams unit that was known for its fake field goal plays, where he had to pass, run and catch. In 1979 he recorded a career high 100 points.

On September 9, 1982 he was waived by the Seahawks in favor of rookie Norm Johnson.

Buffalo Bills
In 1982 he was signed by the Buffalo Bills for the strike abbreviated season (playing only 7 games) and was released at the end of the season. At the time he ranked second all-time in career field goal accuracy with 67.8%.

Los Angeles Raiders
In 1983 he was signed by the Los Angeles Raiders, but was released before the season started.

Oklahoma/Arizona Outlaws (USFL)
In 1984 he signed with the Oklahoma Outlaws, which merged with the Arizona Wranglers on December 4, 1984. He was released by the Arizona Outlaws on 25 January 1985, after the team acquired Luis Zendejas.

Personal life
After graduating college, he received an offer to play professional soccer for the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League, but decided to pursue an NFL career instead.

Herrera is currently an assistant coach at Claremont High School in Claremont, California.