Ben Agajanian, who kicked for nine NFL teams over 20 years, died last Thursday at the age of 98.
He had been the oldest living former NFL player.
Known as “The Toeless Wonder” after a work accident while in college cost him four toes on his right foot, Agajanian still etched out a long NFL career. He was part of two championship teams, with the Giants in 1956 and Packers in 1961.
After having his right foot crushed by a freight elevator in 1939 while attending the University of New Mexico, Agajanian went undrafted in 1941. Following a stint with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, Agajanian got his NFL opportunity with the Eagles.
Last week we lost a legend in UNM Athletics. We mourn the passing of former Lobo kicker Ben Agajanian, who was instrumental in modern placekicking technique, passed away at age 98. He played in the NFL, AFL and AAFC (one of two to do so) #GoLobos https://t.co/EBo6JU24ah
— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) February 14, 2018
Agajanian had to wear two different shoes, a size 11 on his left and a special squared-off size 7 1/2 on his right. He appeared in just one game with the Eagles and did not attempt a kick. He finished the 1945 season with the Steelers, successfully converting all four of his field goal attempts in five games.
After a year out of football, he joined the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference for two years, but then signed with the Giants in 1949. Agajanian’s 53-yard field goal in 1947 remains an AAFC record as the league folded after four seasons.
He was again out of football for four seasons, but signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 1953. Before he died, he had been the oldest living former Rams player.
Agajanian rejoined the Giants a year later and had the longest tenure with any team of his career. He spent four seasons with the Giants, helping them win the NFL championship in 1956. He made two field goals and made five of six extra-point attempts in New York’s 47-7 victory over the Bears.
But Agajanian again found himself out of football following the 1957 season, but joined the upstart AFL Los Angeles Chargers in 1960, scoring the most points of his career. He was 13 of 24 on field-goal attempts and made 46 of 47 extra-point tries.
He began the 1961 season with the Dallas Texans, who are now the Kansas City Chiefs. After just three games, he was sent packing and wound up in Green Bay. He played sparingly for the Packers, who had Paul Hornung as their primary kicker, but Agajanian was part of the team that won the 1961 league championship.
Agajanian finished his career with the Raiders in 1962 and joining the San Diego Chargers in 1964.
Outside of his five games with the Steelers in 1945, Agajanian was never a very accurate kicker. His best season came in 1955, when he made 10 of 15 field goals for the Giants and missed one of 33 extra-point attempts. He made only 84 of 165 field-goal attempts for a 50.9 percentage. He did miss just six times in 279 extra-point tries.
Agajanian was just the second kicking specialist in the NFL, following Mose Kelsch, who played just two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1933-34. Agajanian did begin his pro career doubling as a lineman, but kicked his first NFL field goal with the Steelers with his arm in a sling after breaking it while playing on the line. He was strictly a kicker after that.
After retiring as a player at the age of 45, Agajanian spent 20 years as the Cowboys kicking coach.
Agajanian was born in Santa Ana, Calif., and went to San Pedro High School before attending Compton Community College. He later transferred to New Mexico and was one of just two players who played in the AAFC, AFL and NFL. The other was former 49ers linebacker Hardy Brown.
Agajanian’s older brother, J.C., was an auto racing pioneer and has been inducted into various halls of fame, including the Auto Racing Hall of Fame at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
Agajanian and his longtime wife had four children — Larry, Lynne, Lewis and Lori.