SEPTEMBER 2026

Mark Moseley: The Only Full Time Placekicker to Win the NFL MVP Award

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

This month with the start of a new NFL season, we honor Mark Moseley - a unique Galaxy Good Guy who is the answer to a trivia question (see the title of this article) that will likely stump even the most avid pro football fan at any Game Day party across America or overseas.  Moseley is quintessential "old school" when it comes to gridiron play: a straight on placekicker who kicked in adverse playing conditions that included using the ball that was in play (not a special ball set aside only for kicking situations).  Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles (1970) and then released one year later, Mosely then signed with the Houston Oilers only to be released again (1972).  Out of football for two years, Moseley worked year-round installing septic systems and coaching high school sports before signing with the Washington Redskins in 1974 at the invitation of Redskin Head Coach George Allen.  By the time he retired from the NFL after the 1986 season, Moseley had recorded an excellent career as a place kicking specialist: successful on 300 out of 457 attempts (65%), successful on 482 out of 512 extra point attempts (94%) and scoring a total of 1,382 points.  During his playing career, Mosely led the NFL in field goals made four times while ranking 5th in both field goals and extra points upon retirement.

But what made Moseley unique, and was the foundation of becoming a Super Bowl Champion, was becoming the only full time placekicker to win the prestigious MVP award (while also being named UPI NFC Player of the Year) in 1982.  Moseley attributed his historic award to very special circumstances and the needs of his team.  In no particular order, here are the factors that aligned perfectly:

> Being in the right place at the right time - The 1982 season was shortened to nine games by a player's strike.  This created an opportunity for a special teams player to have a magnified impact since there was not enough time for offensive players (quarterbacks, running backs and receivers) to post MVP-level metrics.

> Clutch performance and team needs - Washington had a young team whose offense struggled in the "red zone" and in sustaining momentum over the course of a game.  Thus the burden for keeping the Redskins in games fell upon Moseley and he responded by setting two NFL records - 23 consecutive field goals and 95.2% success rate.  He also made several game-winning kicks, including one in a gusty snow storm that clinched the NFC East Division crown for the Redskins.

In what can be described as a "skewed" season, Moseley was clearly the most valuable player for his team.  And in the playoffs that followed, he made four of eight field goals but made BOTH field goals plus three extra points for the Redskins in a Super Bowl win over the Miami Dolphins.  Appropriately, Mosely's final NFL appearance was in a championship game.  He joined the Cleveland Browns mid-season in 1986 and in the AFC Championship game made both of his field goals and extra points for the Browns, only to see the Denver Broncos tie the game in the closing seconds and then win in overtime.  A clutch performer and good team player to the end, Moseley achieved even greater success after retiring from the NFL.  He owned two restaurants and later became the director of franchising for Five Guys Enterprises where he helped the "pop and sons" fast food chain to grow from five locations to over 1,500 restaurants worldwide.  With five children and 13 grandchildren, Moseley has remained a role model of patience, persistence and perseverance as he repurposed his NFL playing skills into being successful in both personal and professional terms.  His commitment to excellence in mastering the intricate fundamentals of place kicking translated into having the same attention to detail in the restaurant business where among his many responsibilities Moseley would also clean tables and straighten chairs, thus showing that no job large or small is unimportant.

As we embark on another exciting season of NFL football, this great American game is now played overseas as well as in the USA while being accessible through multiple media venues.  The season that now runs from September into early February offers lots of compelling human interest stories along with stellar statistical performances.  Now more than four decades later, Mark Moseley's MVP season remains unique and symbolizes that value goes beyond numbers.  Moseley's MVP win is not about personal dominance but rather the alignment of special circumstances (strike shortened season), a team in need of his services and his ability to step up with clutch, record setting performances -- all of which make him the only pure placekicker to win the MVP award.  In a special teams role that remains a ruthless merry-go-round, Moseley has earned his place as a Galaxy Good Guy.  Please join us in saluting his place of honor while welcoming a new NFL season!