To accommodate his foot structure, Dempsey wore a custom, flat-front kicking shoe that had no toe box. [2] Dempsey was born without toes on his right foot and no fingers on his right hand. He wore a modified shoe with a flattened and enlarged toe surface.

During the Detroit Lions-New Orleans Saints game on November 8, 1970, Tom Dempsey kicked a 63-yard field goal with this shoe, setting an NFL record. He beat the previous record by seven yards at a time when field goals over 50 yards were rare.

Due to his lack of toes, Dempsey had to have a specially made shoe that he would wear in football games. The shoe had a "flattened and enlarged" toe surface, and many thought that this gave Dempsey an unfair advantage.

On November 8, 1970 Tom Dempsey kicked his way into the NFL's record books when he connected on a 63-yard field goal attempt to give his New Orleans Saints a last-second victory over the Detroit Lions at Tulane Stadium.

Nov 8, 2017 · The shoe that New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey used to kick a record-setting, game-winning 63-yard field goal against the Detroit Lions in 1970 featured a flat front, to fit...

Apr 5, 2020 · Tom Dempsey was born without any fingers on his right hand or toes on his right foot. Despite those challenges, however, he still found a home on the gridiron. In college, Dempsey actually played as a defensive lineman.

Dec 13, 2022 · After leaving the Eagles, he played two seasons with the LA Rams, one with the Houston Oilers and two with the Buffalo Bills, some questioned whether Dempsey had an unfair advantage because of his custom-made shoe.

Aug 4, 2012 · Tom Dempsey, born with half a right foot, set an NFL record in 1970 by booting a 63-yard field goal with a rather unusual looking shoe.

May 20, 2014 · Dempsey’s new shoe was a $200 custom leather boot that featured a 1 ¾-inch leather block at the toe; it resembled (and struck like) a sledgehammer. Fast-forward two years and one team later, to...

Nov 8, 2023 · Tom Dempsey was perhaps the most unlikely NFL hero in history. He was an overweight barrel-shaped kicker who walked with a noticeable gimp. That’s because Dempsey was born with no toes on his right foot and no fingers on his right hand. So, Dempsey wore a custom, flat-front kicking shoe. It was shaped like a boot and he used it as a club.