Ian Howfield

Ian Howfield
Position: Placekicker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1966-06-06) June 6, 1966
Place of birth: Littleton, Colorado
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight: 210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College: Tennessee
Undrafted: 1987
Career history
Career NFL statistics
FG Made: 13
FG Attempted: 18
FG Pct.: 72.2
Long: 46
PAT Made: 25
PAT Attempted: 29
Player stats at NFL.com
Career Arena statistics
FG Made: 92
FG Attempted: 192
PAT Made: 337
PAT Attempted: 401
Player stats at ArenaFan.com

Ian Michael Howfield (born June 4, 1966 in Littleton, Colorado) is a former American football placekicker who kicked in nine games for the Houston Oilers of the National Football League in 1991.[1]

Howfield graduated from Columbine High School 1984, then attended Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas from 1984 to 1985. He transferred to the University of Tennessee in 1986 to begin his placekicking career, graduating in 1987.

Howfield, who played college football at the University of Tennessee, is the son of former NFL placekicker Bobby Howfield.[2] Howfield played six years in the National Football League as a placekicker: Miami Dolphins in 1987, Seattle Seahawks from 1988-1989 (signed to the practice squad for both years), Denver Broncos in 1990, and Houston Oilers in 1990-1991. He led the Houston Oilers in scoring in 1991, Philadelphia Eagles in 1992, Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1993.

Professional career

He was famously cut by the Houston Oilers for a key missed field goal during a game against then 8-0 Washington Redskins (the Oilers were 7-1 at the time and the contest was seen as a potential preview of Super Bowl XXVI); late in the game Washington fumbled a kickoff return giving the Oilers an opportunity to win via a 33 yard field goal at the end of regulation. Howfield missed. The Redskins, with new life, went on to win the game in overtime on a Chip Lohmiller field goal (3 for 3 on the day). When his clutch-time failure at RFK Stadium was added to his uneven efforts up to that point (he had missed a few extra points and several other field goals, though none of those misses cost Houston any games) were added together, it was not a surprise that the Oilers released Howfield the next day.[3] Howfield never played another game in the NFL.

Dallas Texans

In 1993, Howfield was 7 for 27 (25.9%) in field goals and 19 for 23 (82.6%) in extra points.[4]

Fort Worth Cavalry

In 1994, Howfield was 10 for 29 (34.5%) in field goals and 40 for 53 (75.5%) in extra points. [5]

1995
Las Vegas Sting (first full season in the Arena League)

Led the league in scoring for kickers with 120 pts

Led the league in field goal 71.4% (20-28), a league record at the time

Led all kickers in field goals made in a season with 20

Led all kickers in EXP 91%

Kicked arena league record 61 yarder vs. Miami

Micatin Arena League Kicker of the Year

Second Team All-Arena (1995) [6] [7]

61 yard field goal vs. the Miami Hooters, an Arena League record at the time

63 yards: Aaron Mills, San Jose Saber Cats (W 26–6) v Florida Bobcats, May 18, 1996

62 yards: Brent Williams, Dallas Desperados v Austin Wranglers May 22, 2000

62 yards Clay Rush, Colorado Crush vs. Los Angeles Avengers, Feb. 27, 2005

61 yards Ian Howfield, Las Vegas Sting at Miami Hooters, July 8, 1995

60 yards Rusty Fricke, Denver Dynamite vs. Columbus Thunderbolts, July 26, 1991

1996-1997

Anemia Piranhas

21 for 43 (48.8%) in fieldgoals and 63 for 73 (86.3%) in extra points

1996 Led League for kickers in field goals made (21)

1996 2nd in League for field goal percentage, 48.8%[8]

1997

21 for 44 (47.7%) in field goals and 62 for 74 (83.8%) in extra points

1997 Led League for kickers in field goals made (21)[9]


Howfield was in a life-threatening car accident that cut his career short at the end of the 1997 season in Las Vegas. He was out of football for 5 years recovering from injuries (1998 to 2002). He made a comeback in 2003 with the Tampa Bay Storm. [10]

2003

Tampa Bay Storm/New York Dragons

Kicked a 23-yard game winner in his first game back from the car accident. He went 3 for 3 in field goals. [11]

2003 Led the League in field goal percentage with 66.6% (10-15) [12]

Kicked a 31-yard game winner in the playoffs as time expired to advance to the quarterfinals [13]

He won the Arena League Championship. He retired at the end of the season.

2004

Las Vegas Gladiators

He came out of retirement to play 4 games for the Las Vegas Gladiators to fill in for injured kickers. This was his one last chance to play in front of family and friends.

3 for 5 (60%) in field goals and 18 for 21 (85.7) in extra points. Retired after 4th game. [14]

(7 years in the Arena Leagues)

As of retirement all time records: career stats

All-time 2 point drop kicks 5th with (2)[15]

All-time field goal percentage 15th at 49% [16]

All-time field goal percentage in a season

7th 1995 with 71.4% (20-28), Arena League record at the time, lasted 9 years

8th 2005 with 66.7 (10-15) [17]

All-time career field goal percentage 15th (48.9%) [16]

All-time field goals make in 9th All Time (92) [18]

4th longest field goal ever made (61) [7]

8th all time in kicking points with 614 [19]

Was in a life-threatening car accident which nearly took his life in 1997 which cut his career short. He received two disk fusions in his lower back and an entire right knee cartilage replacement. Returned to the league in 2003 after intensive rehab from the car accident. Won the Arena Bowl with the Tampa Bay Storm in 2003. [20] [21]

Franchise record for longest playoff field goal made 47 yards

Franchise record for field goals make in the playoffs 2 [22]

References

  1. ↑ Pro Football Reference page
  2. ↑ Al Harvin, "From Father to Son, Howfields Know Leahy", The New York Times, Oct. 12, 1991
  3. ↑ http://m.scoreshelf.com/NFL/Teams/WAS/Year/1991/Box_Scores/g9vsOTI
  4. ↑ "AFL Arena Football History - Year By Year - 1993". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  5. ↑ "AFL Arena Football History - Year By Year - 1994". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  6. ↑ "AFL Arena Football History - Year By Year - 1995". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  7. 1 2 "A list of All Players with Field Goals of 60 yards or more in the History of (American) Football". Luckyshow.org. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  8. ↑ "AFL Arena Football History - Year By Year - 1996". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  9. ↑ "AFL Arena Football History - Year By Year - 1997". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  10. ↑ "Sports: Howfield relishes latest chance". Sptimes.com. 2003-03-02. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  11. ↑ "Arena Football League - Tampa Bay vs. Grand". Usatoday.com. 2003-02-23. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  12. ↑ "AFL Arena Football History - Year By Year - 2003". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  13. ↑ "Dragons recover to knock Rush out - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2003-05-26. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  14. ↑ "AFL Arena Football History - Year By Year - 2004". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  15. ↑ "AFL Career Leaders". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  16. 1 2 "AFL Career Leaders". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  17. ↑ "AFL Career Leaders". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  18. ↑ "AFL Career Leaders". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  19. ↑ "Sports: Howfield relishes latest chance". Sptimes.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  20. ↑ "2003 New York Dragons Statistics". The Football Cube. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  21. ↑ "Dragons Single Season Records". Angelfire.com. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  22. ↑ "2003 Tampa Bay Storm Statistics". The Football Cube. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
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