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- For other football players of this name, see John Smith (disambiguation).
| Date of birth: | December 30, 1949 |
| Place of birth: | Leafield, Oxfordshire, England |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Status: | Retired- Coaches soccer (WOBsters) |
| Position(s): | Placekicker |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| College: | Southampton |
| NFL Draft: | 1974 / Round: |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1973 1974-1983 |
New England Colonials (ACFL) New England Patriots |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Pro Bowls: | 1980 |
| Awards: | Named to Patriots All Decade Team for 1970's |
| Records: | Currently the number three leading scorer in Patriots history |
| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
John Michael Smith (born 30 December 1949) is an English-born retired American football placekicker. He made his professional debut with the New England Patriots in 1974, remaining with the team until 1983.
Early years[]
Smith spent ther 1973 season in the Atlantic Coast Football League before re-signing with the Patriots in 1974.[1]
The Snowplow Game and John Lennon's death[]
Smith is perhaps most famous for kicking the only points in the Snowplow Game, played 12 December 1982 in a snow storm at Foxboro Stadium. Convict Mark Henderson, released for a weekend work program, cleared the way with his snowplow for Smith to beat the Miami Dolphins and enter football lore. Two years earlier against Miami on 8 December 1980, Smith was getting ready to attempt a potential game-winning field goal when Howard Cosell announced to the Monday Night Football television audience that John Lennon (who had appeared on MNF six years before as a guest in the booth) had just been assassinated. (Smith's kick was blocked, however, and Miami won the game in overtime.)[2]
Smith led the NFL in scoring in 1979 and 1980. In 1982, Smith injured his right knee (on his non-kicking leg) and underwent arthroscopic surgery; he retired after the 1983 season as the second-highest scoring player in Patriots history, behind Gino Cappelletti.[3]
Post-retirement[]
Smith currently runs The John Smith Sports Center, an indoor sports complex in Milford, Massachusetts. Smith runs JSSA Magic (John Smith Soccer Academy), a premier soccer club for ages 8–18. He also runs John Smith's #1 Soccer School, a soccer camp held at various New England schools and colleges each summer.[4]
Personal life[]
Smith currently lives in Dover, Massachusetts, with his wife Vivienne. Smith has four children and his oldest daughter, Felicity Smith-Day, directs John Smith Soccer. She is a former college All-American. She also played professionally for Arsenal L.F.C.[4]
References[]
External links[]
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