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Stenerud News

January 12th:: The Stenerud TV special is scheduled for January 27th on NRK1.
Jan Stenerud will also be TV2's commentator during the Superbowl. Date: Jan 31st.
This is NRK's press release about the program:

NRK1 onsdag 27. januar kl 20.10
På norsktoppen i USA (3:3)

Tidenes beste kicker
Jan Stenerud fra Fetsund i Norge dro til USA i 1963 og ble amerikansk fotballspiller. Alle amerikanere vil si at han er "the greatest kicker ever". Tande-P har møtt den norske askeladden som er et like kjent navn i USA som Sonja Henie.

Jan Stenerud dro til USA på et skistipendium i 1963. Han fattet imidlertid raskt interesse for den ovale, amerikanske fotballen og etter tre år på universitetet i Montana ble han profesjonell.

Frem til 1980 spilte han for ett og samme lag, Kansas City Chiefs, og var med på å vinne selveste "Super Bowl", den amerikanske fotballens cupfinale og stadig den største begivenhet i amerikansk idrett.

Så fulgte drøyt tre sesonger hos Green Bay Packers, før han gikk over til Minnesota Viking som han spilte for til 1985. Jan Stenerud holdt rekorden med sine 374 fieldgoals helt frem til 1996, da han ble slått med ett mål av Nick Lowery fra New York Jets.

Et eventyrlig liv
I en alder av 42 (i 1985) var Jan Stenerud fortsatt den beste kickeren i NFL, den amerikanske proffligaen. Da hadde han holdt det gående på toppen i 19 år, elsket som idrettsstjerne av amerikanere og hedret blant annet i prestisjefulle "Hall of Fame".

Inntektene har også vært svimlende høye, og Jan Stenerud har bygget seg opp en solid formue. I dag er han markedskonsulent for et arkitektfirma som designer store idrettsanlegg og han har også et eget firma som markedsfører kicker-stilen han innførte i 1960-årene. Han har også vært sidekommentator for TV3, noe han fortsatt holder på med. Golfentusiast er han også, og kan skilte med bare 1 i handikap. Hvert år arrangerer han sin egen golfturnering i Montana. I 1997 var han invitert av golffabrikanten Ping til Norwegian Open i golf. Tidligere har han hatt eget radioprogram i en årrekke i Kansas, der han også har vært bankdirektør.
NRK1 onsdag kl 20.10

Egenprodusert underholdningsprogram
Pressekontakt Fjernsynets informasjonsavdeling: Anne Bekkevold, 23 04 89 56
Programleder: Alf Tande-Petersen
Produsenter: Steinar Hybertsen og Erik Hauan

June 16th 1998: Jan Stenerud will be portrayed in a new Norwegian TV-series.
Alf Tande-Petersen (a well known TV host) is now in the USA to produce a series about norwegians who have made it big in the states.
The first one to be inteviewed is Stein Eriksen, the winner of the 1952 olympic slalom race.
Later, "Tande-P" will meet Jan Stenerud and the long distance runner Grete Waitz.

According to the norwegian tabloid VG, (June 16th, page 47), the programs are scheduled for broadcast some time around christmas on NRK, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.

June 10th 1998: From CBS Sportsline:

Arizona Cardinals: Erratic kicker given chance to learn from the best

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona kicker Joe Nedney is a work in progress, so the Cardinals brought in one of the best to help his development.

"If you can't learn something from a Hall of Fame kicker, you're not listening," Nedney said of his chance to pick up pointers from Jan Stenerud.

Stenerud, who retired in 1985 after 19 years with Kansas City, Green Bay and Minnesota, made few changes in Nedney's mechanics during sessions Wednesday and Thursday, but advised him to accept pressure.

"One thing he said that I liked was that - during the week when you're the only person out of the field - put yourself in a game-winning situation," Nedney said. "Put a little pressure on yourself, get a little fire in your belly, so that when it comes time to do it in a game, it's a familiar feeling."

Stenerud said to go beyond envisioning the ball in flight.

"I'm talking about feeling, getting as close as you can to feeling the situation," he said.

The skull sessions were another step toward filling in the cracks that made the Cardinals a 4-12 team last season. Arizona strengthened its last-place running game and its secondary with trades and draft picks, and the mood has been upbeat at the team's voluntary camp for veterans.

Place-kicking is still a question mark, though, especially for a coach who lost two one-point games last year after Kevin Butler missed field goals in the fourth quarter.

Tobin waived Butler in mid-October and hired the left-footed Nedney, who came in with a reputation as the most erratic kicker in the NFL.

At San Jose State, Nedney missed one of every 10 extra points and 31 of 70 field goals. He also made a 60-yard field goal, the kind of strength that won him repeated tryouts and eventually a job with the Miami Dolphins.

In 1996, Nedney had an NFL-worst accuracy record (18-of-29), but put an AFC-high 20 kickoffs through the end zone.

He was only a little more accurate (11-of-17) on field goals for the Cardinals. But Stenerud said Nedney has good technique and may be on the verge of stardom.

"I think Joe is going to be a kicker in the league for many years," said Stenerud, who is No. 2 in NFL field goals (373) and attempts (558) and third in points (1,699). "He has all the tools, he's young, but he's a conscientious guy."

Stenerud, who lives in Colorado, agreed to help out as a favor to Bob Ferguson, Arizona's vice president of player personnel and a former front office employee of the Denver Broncos.

"It's really nice of Jan to come in and do this for us," special teams coach Al Everest said. "Joe is a young kicker with a tremendous upside. And if Jan could help us a little bit, help us win a couple more games, that's what we wanted."

March 11th 1998: Fetsund, Jan Stenerud's birthplace names a road after him.
The road is a short, about 400-500 meters, dead end street, the street where he grew up.

The local daily, Romerikes Blad, March 12th, page 14 (my translation):

The Chief's own road.

By Ivar Klausen

Fetsund: The americans don't forget old heroes. That's why Jan Stenerud still is a major celebrity in the USA. He has handled 30 years of commotion with stoic calm. Yesterday the tears came when his childhood street home in Fetsund was named Jan Steneruds road.

"I will never forget this day", said the megastar who became as famous as rich by kicking an oval ball further and more accurately than everybody else.

In his charming norwegian/american accent he ended the day in this way:
"It is fine to be remembered as an placekicker with my own street name. But I hope I will be remembered as something more important, as a good human being."

Moved

Two hours earlier he came strolling with his family to the official opening of Jan Steneruds road. Marching bands, Norwegian flags, past and present mayors, a large media gathering and not at least a whole football team met the legend on his great day.

"Jan feels this is very solemn and is a bit afraid he will start crying. It is a big day for him," whispered Patty, the kicker's fiancee. A little shy, Fet's great son was praised by the many present.

Obviously moved he made it clear that it's something very special about his home field and the street he grew up in - and mentioned them all one by one with gratitude in his eyes.
"Hardly a day passes in my life when I don't think of Fetsund".

His own day

With his homeplace in the background it means more than a lot for a sports hero i gigaclass that his neighbourhood shows real pride and joy. That the man already is honored with his own festival day (Jan 26th) home in Montana, pales quickly a cold gray March day in the old country when he meets old buddies from the ski jumping circuit from the early sixties.

"It is odd. I have been honored many times in USA, where I played this sport. Much is forgotten, but I'll never forget this day.

The one who said that is Norway's best known sports personality , regardless category.

Jan Stenerud (center) with one of the locals and Jan's fiancee, Patty. PHOTO: NRK

Jan Stenerud with Norway's best football team, VIF Trolls. PHOTO: TvRomerike

Jan Steneruds vei. PHOTO: Atle Brunvoll

From www.nfl.com March '98

Stenerud begins tutelage of NFL Europe kickers

ATLANTA (February 27) — Hall of Fame kicker Jan Stenerud, NFL Europe’s kicking consultant, begins his duties at the league’s training camp in Atlanta this weekend.

Stenerud, who was born in Fetsund, Norway, is a key figure in developing the league’s European kickers. Beginning Saturday, February 28, the six-time Pro Bowl performer will conduct a two-day minicamp, including workouts at the Atlanta Falcons facility in Suwanee, Georgia. Following the minicamp, Stenerud will continue working with the kickers at team headquarters.

"We are delighted to have someone of Jan’s stature and experience working with us," NFLE President Oliver Luck said. "Our kickers will benefit enormously from his experience."

The first full-time kicker to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Stenerud began playing football after earning a skiing scholarship to Montana State University. He went on to spend 19 years in the NFL, including 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (1967-1979).

Stenerud won a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs in a 23-7 Super Bowl IV victory over the Minnesota Vikings, connecting on three field goals and two extra points in the title triumph. He then moved to Green Bay (1980-83) before finishing his illustrious career with the Minnesota Vikings (1984-85).

"As a European, Jan knows the problems some of our European kickers face," Luck said. "Many of them have, like Jan, converted from playing another sport and Jan is living proof of what can be achieved. I am sure he will be an inspiration to all of our kickers, both European and American."

Stenerud added, "I am delighted to be joining the league and I am looking forward to getting out on the field with the kickers in Atlanta."

Stenerud takes over the position formerly held by Doug Blevins, who went on to become kicking coach for the Miami Dolphins.