Efrén Herrera

Efrén Herrera(born July 30, 1951) is aMexican-Americanformerfootballplayer who was aplacekickerin theNational Football League(NFL). He playedcollege footballfor theUCLA Bruinsand was selected in the seventh round of the1974 NFL draft.Herrera played in the NFL for theDallas Cowboys,Seattle SeahawksandBuffalo Bills.He also was a member of theOklahoma Outlawsin theUnited States Football League(USFL).

Efrén Herrera

No. 1
Position:	Placekicker
Personal information
Born:	(1951-07-30)July 30, 1951 Guadalajara,Mexico
Height:	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:	La Puente(La Puente, California)
College:	UCLA
NFL draft:	1974/ round: 7 / pick: 169
Career history
Detroit Lions(1974)* Dallas Cowboys(1974–1977) Seattle Seahawks(1978–1981) Buffalo Bills(1982) Los Angeles Raiders(1983)* Chicago Blitz(1984)* Arizona Outlaws(1984)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion(XII) First-teamAll-Pro(1977) Second-team All-Pro (1976) Pro Bowl(1977) PFWA All-Rookie Team(1974) Second-teamAll-Pacific-8(1973)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 106 Field goals: 116 / 171 Field goal %: 67.8 Extra points: 256 / 268 StatsatPro Football Reference

Early years

At age 15, Herrera's family moved to the United States fromGuadalajara,Mexico.He attendedLa Puente High Schooland practicedsoccerwith no knowledge aboutfootball,until he was spotted kicking abasketballinto asoccergoal. He eventually joined the football team, playing as aplacekickerandsafety.He also lettered inbaseball,wrestlingandtrack.

College career

Herrera accepted a football scholarship from theUniversity of California, Los Angeles,where he was aplacekickerfor thefootballteam and a forward/midfielder for thesoccerteam.

In 1971, Herrera became a starter and against theUniversity of Washington,he set the school record for made field goals (4) in one game. In the opening game of the 1972 season, he kicked the game-winningfield goal,with 20 seconds left, in the 20–17 upset of two-time defending national championNebraska.In 1973, he broke the school'sPATsattempted (64) and made (61) record. In 1974, he led the nation in kick scoring (84 points).

During Herrera's career, theUCLA Bruins footballteam regularly finished among the leaders in the nation in scoring, which helped him leave as the school and NCAA career leader in scoring with 368 points (1971–1974). He also set the 7 career records includingPATsattempted (127) and made (121).

TheUCLA soccer teamalso made it to the NCAA Finals in1972and1973while Herrera was a player, losing both years toSaint Louis.

Professional career

Detroit Lions

Herrera was selected by theDetroit Lionsin the seventh round (169th overall) of the1974 NFL draft.He was also selected in the third round by theLos Angeles Aztecsof theNASLDraft. He is distinguished as being the secondMexicanborn player to be drafted into theNational Football League(Tom Fearswas the first one). He was waived on September 12.

Dallas Cowboys

On October 3,1974,theDallas Cowboyssigned Herrera as afree agentafter kickerToni Fritschwas lost for the season with a knee injury andMac Percivalmade two out of eight field goal attempts in the first three games.The next year, he was lost with a knee injury in pre-season and was placed on theinjured reserve list.

In1976,Herrera competed with Fritsch to regain his starting job in pre-season and tied for the league lead in field goal percentage with 78.3%. He also became proficient doing "pooch kicks" (punts from field goal formation).

In1977,Herrera made 18 out of 29 field goals, 39 extra points (tied for the league lead), was the second leading scorer (93 points) in the NFL, had a career-long 52-yard field goal against theWashington Redskinsand tied the league record for mostfield goalsattempted (5) in a game. He was anAll-Proselection and made the1978 Pro Bowlat the end of the season. He also helped the Cowboys winSuper Bowl XII.

On August 14,1978,Herrera was traded to theSeattle Seahawksin exchange for a fifth-round draft choice (#128-Curtis Anderson), because of a contract holdout.He left with the top career field goal percentage in franchise history (.677). The Cowboys replaced him withRafael Septién.

Seattle Seahawks

In1978,Herrera underwent appendectomy surgery following the 15th game of the season and came back the next week against theKansas City Chiefsto make a 31-yard field goal and two out of three extra points.

In Seattle, he became a fan favorite as part of aspecial teamsunit that was known for its fakefield goalplays, where he had to pass, catch, block and run. In1979,Herrera recorded a career high 100 points and was third in the league with an 82.6% field goal percentage. The next year, he set club and career records for most field goals in a season (20) and in a game (4).

In1981,Herrera made a career-long 54-yard field goal. He was placed on theinjured reserve listwith a knee injury on November 16.He was waived in favor of rookieNorm Johnsonon September 8,1982.

Buffalo Bills

On September 20,1982,Herrera was signed by theBuffalo Billsto replaceNick Mike-Mayerduring the strike abbreviated season (playing seven of the team's nine games). He was released on July 11,1983.At the time, Herrera ranked second all-time in careerfield goalaccuracy with 67.8%.

Los Angeles Raiders

In July1983,Herrera was signed by theLos Angeles Raiders,but he could not passChris Bahron the depth chart and was cut on August 16.

Chicago Blitz (USFL)

On January 25,1984,Herrera was signed by theChicago Blitzof theUnited States Football League.He was released on February 24.

Oklahoma/Arizona Outlaws (USFL)

On March 15,1984,Herrera signed with theOklahoma Outlawsof theUnited States Football League.On December 4, the team merged with theArizona Wranglers.On January 25,1985,he was released after the team acquiredLuis Zendejas.

Personal life

Herrera is currently an assistant coach atClaremont High SchoolinClaremont, California.

External links

• More than a kicker
• Catching up with Efren Herrera: Ex-kicker fields range of goalsArchivedMarch 4, 2016, at theWayback Machine