John Carney Kicking Camp at Cardinal Newman High School

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission/Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Award is pleased to announce that former NFL kicker John Carney will return to his alma mater to host a kicking clinic on July 22.  Before John Carney’s stellar 23 year pro career, he got his start at Cardinal Newman High School under the auspices of legendary coach Sam Budnyk.  In 1980, as a sophomore,, John became the Crusaders’ place kicker and punter.   

From Newman, it was on to the University of Notre Dame as a walk on.  But after a semester he earned a scholarship and by the end of his college career he stood as the most successful kicker in the school’s long and illustrious history, kicking 51 field goals in 44 games, including a last second game winner in one of those historic Notre Dame Southern Cal rivalry games.    Carney’s career with the Irish was culminated when he was honored as the kicker on the Sports Illustrated all time Notre Dame team.

After college, John went undrafted by the NFL, and it would take three years for him to land a job as the kicker for the San Diego Chargers.   In 11 seasons with San Diego, he amassed 1076 points, a Charger record that still stands.  The 1994 season stands out as perhaps his most memorable, kicking 34 of 38 field goals and all 33 extra point tries to contribute to the Chargers’ AFC championship.

In 2001, John began a run of 6 seasons in New Orleans, and also saw time with Kansas City and Jacksonville.  At the age of 44, John signed as a starter for the New York Giants and had his best season statistically, when he made 35 of 38 field goal attempts and all 38 PAT’s to earn his second trip to the Pro Bowl

In 2009, he returned to New Orleans where he kicked in all 11 games, and then became a specialist coach for the Saints in SuperBowl XXXVI.  In his 23 seasons, Carney scored 2062 points, 4^th best in league history  and his 82.4 field goal percentage is higher than the three players ahead of him.  His 302 games is 7^th best and his 29 4 field goal games is tops in NFL history.