Ken Strong

Who was Ken Strong?

Elmer Kenneth Strong, Jr. was a college and professional American football player. After a college career as multi-year All-American at New York University, he went on to play professional football. As a halfback with a 14-year career he played from 1929–1937, 1939, 1944-1947. He played for the Staten Island Stapletons and New York Giants, both of the National Football League, and the New York Yankees of the second American Football League.

He is the first known player in NFL history to attempt and score on a fair catch kick. The kick was made on November 26, 1933, in a win against the visiting Green Bay Packers. The 30-yard kick was also the shortest fair catch kick in NFL history. Only five people, including Strong, have made successful fair catch kick attempts in the NFL. Strong is also believed to be the second player to have devoted an entire season to placekicking; his 1939 season with the Giants had him playing very little outside of kicks.