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The Greatest Kansas City Chiefs, By the Numbers: #3

Agajanian_medium

Well the greatest Chief to wear #3 is pretty easy - it's between Ben Agajanian (1962) and Jan Stenerud (1967-79). Stenerud's #3 jersey was retired in the 1990s.

But before you dismiss Mr. Aganjanian, let me give you his nickname - The Toeless Wonder. He has quite the interesting story in case you haven't heard it before.

Here's a couple of notes on him from his Wiki page:

Benjamin James Agajanian "The Toeless Wonder" (born August 28, 1919 in Santa Ana, California) is an Armenian-American and a former collegiate and Professional Football player. A placekicker, he played college football at the University of New Mexico, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers in 1960, 1961, and 1964. He also played for the Dallas Texans in 1961 and the Oakland Raiders in 1962. He was one of only two players (the other was Hardy Brown) who played in the All-America Football Conference, the American Football League, and the National Football League.

Agajanian had four toes of his kicking foot crushed off in a work accident during college, but overcame the injury to become pro football's first kicking specialist, booting field goals for 14 different professional teams in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, including the 1956 World Champion New York Giants. After retiring from the field, he was the Dallas Cowboys kicking coach for 20 years.

An old LA Times article reveals a bit more about The Toeless Wonder's story:

Ben was a football player of some local repute who went from Compton Junior College to the University of New Mexico, then had what would have been to most a career-ending injury. He was at a summer job and had the toes on his right foot crushed so badly in an elevator accident that he had to have them amputated.

Ben wrote the New Mexico coach a letter and said he wanted to come back, try to keep playing the defensive line, but mainly continue as a kicker.

"Didn't hear a thing," he says, "so when it was time for practice to start, I got in my car, drove to Albuquerque, walked into the middle of a coaches' meeting, sat down and waited for them to finish. After a while, the coach looks up and says, 'What are you sitting there for? Go get your uniform on.'"

So yes, I know that Jan Stenerud is a Hall of Fame kicker, on the Chiefs' lone Super Bowl winning team. But you have to give Ben Aganjanian some credit for sure. He was the first place kicking specialist, paving the way for Stenerud's Hall of Fame career. Plus, the guy destroyed his kicking foot. For some reason, I don't think toughness like that exists in the NFL today.

And not to gloss over Mr. Jan Stenerud, because he should run away with this vote. Here are some of his accomplishments:

  • 2X AFL All-Star (1968, 1969)
  • 4X Pro Bowl selection 1970, 1971, 1975, 1984)
  • 3X All-AFL selection (1967), 1968, 1969)
  • 7X All-Pro selection (1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1984)
  • Pro Bowl MVP (1972)
  • Chiefs Hall of Fame
  • NFL 75th All-Time Team
  • Packers Hall of Fame
  • Kansas City Chiefs #3 retired

Have at it this morning. I'm moving out of my apartment today to an incredible new spot right by Town Lake in Austin, TX. I'm completely jazzed about it. We're going to be within walking distance of the lake, Barton Springs (a natural spring pool), Zilker park (hiking and such) and about a dozen restaurants and bars.

Who says you can't move forward without a job?

Poll
Who is the greatest Chief to wear #3?
Ben Agajanian
37 votes
Jan Stenerud
553 votes

590 votes | Poll has closed

1 recs  |  Comment 10 comments |

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Comments

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Nice post

Had no clue about the other kicker but Stenerud in a landslide…

by Joel Thorman on May 22, 2009 8:23 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Terrific

Great post. Don’t you think he should be considered for the HOF?

David Logue

by dklogue1 on May 22, 2009 8:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

B.S.!!!

You gotta go with the Borat fellow! He was 42 when he joined the Texans!

=)

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on May 22, 2009 8:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

You forgot to say...

Stenerud is the only kicker/punter in the pro football hall of fame.

by I_Bleed_Red. on May 22, 2009 8:40 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

What could the man have accomplished on the football field with all 5 toes? Sten gets the nod but I’d rather sit down and have drinks with the Toe less wonder. Gratz on the new diggs. Walking distance to bars is something I strive to achieve myself someday.

by BucktheFroncos on May 22, 2009 10:29 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

guess it would be sad

if i didn’t at least post on this one. soccer style wasn’t all the rage back in the late 60’s/early 70’s until Jan brought his Norwegian born style to Municipal Stadium. Here’s to the best Scandinavian Chief’s player too. And the name…was the place I sat in the stands to watch my first Chiefs game as a kid behind the goal posts. All time great.

by stenerud's roost on May 22, 2009 5:26 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

How can it be anyone but Stenerud?

I’m a Bronco fan so I think I can be a little objective here. I do love the story about Agajanian, seems like a great guy in his own right, but who brought more to the Chiefs and over so many years? I’ve got to be honest, I don’t know if he’s in the h.o.f. (de-emphasis added, it’s a long story) but if he isn’t he should be. How many times did he come through, in the clutch for the Chiefs? That Norwegian legend was about as automatic as the sunrise.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on May 22, 2009 5:27 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Don't get me wrong

I hate Shannon Sharpe since I’m a Chiefs fan but no HOF for him is pretty ridiculous. I followed MHR during that.

by Joel Thorman on May 23, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

De-emphasis for Floyd Little.

He played on some bad Bronco teams and still had a dominating career. He was “The Franchise” before anybody even heard of Elway. No less a talent than Jim Brown himself said he should be in the h.o.f. He saved football in Denver, a team perhaps on the verge of being moved to Texas at the time. Until he is enshrined, as he should be, the h.o.f. will never have my repsect.

I think Shannon Sharpe belongs but last year was his first year of eligibility. They’ve had what? 35, 36 years to get it right with Floyd? The fact that Little isn’t in the h.o.f. is an outrage.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on May 26, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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