Vince Abbott
Encyclopedia
Vincent Steven Abbott is a former American football
player. Born in London, Abott graduated the University of Washington, and was undrafted free agent
. He played for a time in the USFL for the Los Angeles Express. After being cut in five previous attempts, he managed to win an NFL job with the San Diego Chargers
, during the 1987 pre-season, beating out veteran kicker Rolf Benirschke
.
In his first NFL game, the 1987 season opener in Kansas City against the Kansas City Chiefs
, Abbott successfully made two out of three field goals, a thirty-two yarder and a thirty-three yarder, the second tying the game at 13 with just over three minutes to play. He would not make an appearance again until the season's seventh game, when he missed two early field goals in a key game against the Cleveland Browns
. Nevertheless, he successfully converted a twenty-yard kick with 1:46 remaining in the game, tying the score at 24 apiece, and he was able to convert a 33-yard overtime kick to secure victory for the Chargers, 27-24. That kick lifted the Chargers to 6-1, their best start since their first season in 1961, and put them in first place in their division. Three field goals each against the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams made the difference in narrow victories, and helped keep the Chargers momentum going as they ran their record to 8-1.
Although the Chargers would fade, losing their final six games to miss the playoffs, Abbott retained his kicking duties into 1988, having finished the 1987 with a 13 for 22 field goal, with seven of his misses coming from beyond forty yards. Abbott played in 12 games during 1988, for a Chargers team that went 6-10, and converted 8 out of 12 field goals. This was his last season in the NFL; he ended his career with exactly 100 total points, and a 61% field goal percentage.
Vince appeared with his family on Family Feud
in 1983. His team was defeated by a family that eventually retired undefeated.
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...
player. Born in London, Abott graduated the University of Washington, and was undrafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He played for a time in the USFL for the Los Angeles Express. After being cut in five previous attempts, he managed to win an NFL job with the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, during the 1987 pre-season, beating out veteran kicker Rolf Benirschke
Rolf Benirschke
Rolf Joachim Benirschke is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers from 1978 to 1987, and was the host of the NBC daytime Wheel Of Fortune in 1989.-Early career:...
.
In his first NFL game, the 1987 season opener in Kansas City against the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, Abbott successfully made two out of three field goals, a thirty-two yarder and a thirty-three yarder, the second tying the game at 13 with just over three minutes to play. He would not make an appearance again until the season's seventh game, when he missed two early field goals in a key game against the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Nevertheless, he successfully converted a twenty-yard kick with 1:46 remaining in the game, tying the score at 24 apiece, and he was able to convert a 33-yard overtime kick to secure victory for the Chargers, 27-24. That kick lifted the Chargers to 6-1, their best start since their first season in 1961, and put them in first place in their division. Three field goals each against the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams made the difference in narrow victories, and helped keep the Chargers momentum going as they ran their record to 8-1.
Although the Chargers would fade, losing their final six games to miss the playoffs, Abbott retained his kicking duties into 1988, having finished the 1987 with a 13 for 22 field goal, with seven of his misses coming from beyond forty yards. Abbott played in 12 games during 1988, for a Chargers team that went 6-10, and converted 8 out of 12 field goals. This was his last season in the NFL; he ended his career with exactly 100 total points, and a 61% field goal percentage.
Vince appeared with his family on Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
in 1983. His team was defeated by a family that eventually retired undefeated.