Longtime NFL kicker Tom Dempsey died Saturday after a battle with coronavirus, reports said. He was 73.
Dempsey contracted the virus where he lived at a retirement home in Uptown New Orleans, a city that’s become one of the growing hot spots for the pandemic in the U.S.
Dempsey held the NFL record for longest made field goal for 43 years. He kicked a game-winning 63-yard field goal for the New Orleans Saints to beat the Detroit Lions in a game in 1970.
Born without toes on his right foot or fingers on his right hand, Dempsey was notable for wearing a modified, flat-toed shoe on his kicking foot.
Dempsey, who played for 11 years for five teams, is in the Saints’ Hall of Fame.
His wife told NOLA.com that Dempsey contracted COVID-19 on March 25. He also battled dementia for the final several years of his life.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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