Mick Luckhurst


Michael Christopher "Mick" Luckhurst is an English retired American football placekicker. One of the earliest British-born players in NFL history, he played his entire professional career with the Atlanta Falcons.

Early life

Luckhurst was born on March 31, 1958 in Redbourn, Hertfordshire, he attended St Columba's College, St Albans in his home county before going on to attend St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and the University of California at Berkeley, where he starred in rugby as well as American football. He was a key player in leading the Cal Golden Bears to their first national collegiate rugby title in 1980, making 14 of 17 field goals and 18 of 19 extra points. He also held the record for the longest field goal in California history for many years, a 54-yard boot against Oregon State in 1979.

NFL career

Luckhurst joined the Atlanta Falcons in 1981, remaining with the team until the 1987 NFL season. Luckhurst scored a rushing touchdown on a fake field goal for the team in their 1982 playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, the only rushing attempt of his career. Luckhurst retired as the team's all-time leading scorer with 558 points, which would be surpassed by Morten Andersen in 2000.

Retirement

After his playing days, Luckhurst became the face of American Football coverage on Channel 4 in his native UK between 1987 and 1991. Conversely, he was also an analyst for the American TV station TNT during its coverage of the 1990 World Cup.
On 26 October 2014, Luckhurst was part of the ceremonial coin toss at Wembley Stadium as the Atlanta Falcons faced the Detroit Lions in an International Series game.