January 28, 2016

Highlighted Year: John Carney, 1994

Placekicker, San Diego Chargers




Age: 30
7th season in pro football, 4th complete with Chargers
College: Notre Dame
Height: 5’11” Weight: 170

Prelude:
Carney kicked 51 field goals in college and set a Notre Dame season record with his 89.5 percentage in 1984 (17 of 19). He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1987 but failed to make the team and sat out the year. Carney finished out the last four games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1988, substituting for the injured Donald Igwebuike, and started the year in ’89, playing in a total of five games and making good on two of five field goal attempts and all six of his PAT attempts. After failing to make the Chargers during the 1990 preseason, he appeared in one game with the Rams and was then re-signed by San Diego, succeeding on 19 of 21 field goal attempts. Following a lesser year in ’91, Carney bounced back to have two strong seasons, including hitting on 31 of 40 field goal tries in 1993, with two games in which he kicked six field goals in as many attempts.

1994 Season Summary
Appeared in all 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking
Field goals – 34 [1, tied with Fuad Reveiz]
Most field goals, game – 5 at New Orleans 10/16, vs. Denver 10/23
Field goal attempts – 38 [3]
Most field goal attempts, game – 5 at New Orleans 10/16, vs. Denver 10/23
Field goal percentage – 89.5 [2]
PATs – 33 [9, tied with Ed Murray]
PAT attempts – 33 [9, tied with Ed Murray]
Longest field goal – 50 yards at Atlanta 11/6, vs. San Francisco 12/11

Scoring
Field Goals – 34
PATs – 33
Points – 135 [1]

Postseason: 3 G
Field goals – 4
Most field goals, game – 2 vs. Miami, AFC Divisional playoff
Field goal attempts – 4
Most field goal attempts, game – 2 vs. Miami, AFC Divisional playoff
PATs – 5
Most PATs, game – 2 vs. Miami, AFC Divisional playoff; at Pittsburgh, AFC Championship
PAT attempts – 5
Longest field goal – 31 yards vs. San Francisco, Super Bowl

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-NFL: AP, Sporting News
1st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl

Chargers went 11-5 to finish first in the AFC West. Won AFC Divisional playoff over Miami Dolphins (22-21) & AFC Championship over Pittsburgh Steelers (17-13). Lost Super Bowl to San Francisco 49ers (49-26).   

Aftermath:
Carney spent another six years with the Chargers and departed following the 2000 season as the club’s all-time leader in field goals (261) and scoring (1076 points). While not strong on kickoffs, and with concerns about his range, he joined the New Orleans Saints in 2001 and stayed for six years, providing reliability if not long distance. Carney split time with the Jaguars and Chiefs in 2007 before moving on to the New York Giants in ’08, where he had an excellent season, making good on 35 of 38 field goal attempts and gaining selection to the Pro Bowl at age 44. However, his contract was not renewed and he spent parts of the 2009 and ’10 seasons back with the Saints, finishing his 23-year career at 46 years old. Overall, Carney kicked 478 field goals in 580 attempts (82.4 %) and added 628 extra points (with 10 misses) for a total of 2062 points The field goal and point totals ranked third all-time in NFL history. He received first-team All-NFL recognition once, second-team honors twice, and was chosen to two Pro Bowls. Carney was named to the Chargers’ 50th anniversary all-time team.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970