Okay, so I was digging into this whole “last drop kick in NFL” thing, and man, it’s a trip down memory lane. I mean, we’re talking about a play that’s basically extinct now, but it used to be a thing, you know?
So, I started by trying to remember when I last saw a drop kick. Honestly, I couldn’t. It’s been ages. That got me curious, so I hit up the internet, and guess what? The last successful drop kick extra point was way back on January 1st, 2006. Yep, 2006! Feels like a lifetime ago. It was by Doug Flutie for the Patriots, in a Week 17 game against the Dolphins. Turns out, it was a pretty meaningless game, and the Patriots even lost 28-26. But hey, history was made, right?
Then, I got into this whole rabbit hole about the rules and stuff. Apparently, a kicker can use either a drop kick or a place kick. Both are totally legal. But the drop kick? It’s like trying to find a unicorn these days. I did learn that the last guy to use it regularly was Dutch Clark of the Lions. He was the real deal, the last of a dying breed.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame says the last drop kick for points was on December 21, but they didn’t say the year. Probably not important, anyway. It’s ancient history.
I even tried to find videos of old drop kicks. It’s tough, man. The quality is grainy, and it’s all in black and white. But it’s cool to see how different the game was back then. It feels so raw and, I don’t know, kind of more exciting in a way.
My Conclusion?
- It’s Gone: The drop kick is basically gone from the NFL.
- Last Hurrah: Flutie’s drop kick in 2006 was the last successful extra point one we’ve seen.
- Dutch Clark: He was the last guy to really use it a lot.
Anyway, that’s my little deep dive into the last drop kick in the NFL. It’s a fun piece of football history, and it makes you appreciate how much the game has changed over the years.
