Dale Livingston

Dale Roger Livingston (March 12, 1945 – January 5, 2009)[1] was an American football kicker and punter who became the starting kicker/punter on the Cincinnati Bengals first team in 1968.

Dale Livingston
No. 11, 37
Position:Kicker/Punter
Personal information
Born:(1945-03-12)March 12, 1945
Plymouth, Michigan
Died:January 5, 2009(2009-01-05) (aged 63)
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Career information
College:Western Michigan University
NFL Draft:1968 / Round: 3 / Pick: 83
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Field goals:28/54 (51.9%)
Extra points:39/41 (95.1%)
Punts/yards:146/6004 (41.1 yds/punt)
Player stats at NFL.com

College career

Livingston played college football at Western Michigan University. His kicking career had an unlikely start. In 1965 Livingston, pulled from a physical education class, impressed coach Bill Doolittle during an impromptu tryout at Waldo Stadium as Livingston immediately connected on a series of 30- and 40-yard field goals and 50-yard punts.[2]

He played on the Broncos' 1966 Mid-American Conference championship team. A successful onside kick and late field goal by Livingston against Ohio University in 1966 gave WMU a share of its first MAC title.

Livingston had an 86-yard punt against Kent State that is tied for the longest punt in Broncos history. During his WMU career, he averaged 39.9 yards per punt, including 43.3 in one season that ranks second all-time for the Broncos.

He was selected to play in the North-South All Star Game in 1967 and was named Second-Team All-American.[3]

Professional football

Livingston was selected by the expansion Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 1968 NFL/AFL Draft.[3] He became the first kicker in Bengals history, and was also the team's punter.

On September 6, 1968, in the Bengals first-ever regular-season game, he kicked the first extra point in Bengals history after a touchdown run by Paul Robinson to give the Bengals 7-0 lead over the San Diego Chargers. In the second quarter, he kicked the team's first-ever field goal, a 22-yarder in the second quarter to tie the game 10-10. The Chargers would go on to win 29-10.[4]

The following week, he kicked a 49-yard field goal, his longest of the season, and three extra points in the Bengals first-ever win, 24-10 over the Denver Broncos. For the season, he made 13 field goals in 26 attempts and was 20-20 in extra points. He punted 70 times for a 43.4 average, including a season-high 66-yarder.[4]

In the 1969 season, Livingston handled punting duties only as Horst Muhlmann became the team's kicker. Livingston again had 70 punts, this time for a 39.8 average. He also completed two passes for 17 yards.[5][6]

During the Bengals training camp for the 1970 season, Livingston was released on Aug. 18, 1970.[7]

He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as their kicker for the 1970 season. He led the Packers in scoring that season with 64 points. He made 15 of 28 field goal attempts was and 19 for 21 on extra points. He also punted six times for a 33.2 average.[5]

In the Packers first-ever Monday Night Football game, Livingston's 14-yard field goal with 3:39 left in the game gave the Packers a 22-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Oct. 12, 1970 at San Diego. [8]

After football

Livingston sold insurance for 20 years after leaving the Packers. He then served as a teacher and coach at Freedom Middle School in Green Bay for 12 years.[2]

In 1986, he was diagnosed with a type of Hodgkin's lymphoma but overcame the disease.[2]

Livingston was inducted into the Western Michigan University Hall of Fame in October 2007. He retired from teaching in 2008.

Livingston resided in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin near Green Bay at the time of his death on January 5, 2009. He had a wife, Elizabeth, and two sons, Dale Jr. and Christopher, plus four granddaughters.[9]

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References
  1. "Topic Galleries". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  2. "Obituary: Former Western Michigan star Dale Livingston the unlikeliest of kickers". MLive.com. 2009-01-08. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  3. "WMU Football Hall of Famer Dale Livingston Passes Away at the Age of 63 - WMUBroncos.com—Official Web Site of Western Michigan Athletics". Wmubroncos.com. 2007-08-27. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  4. "1968 Cincinnati Bengals Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  5. "Dale Livingston NFL & AFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  6. "1969 Cincinnati Bengals Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  8. Luthern, Ashley (2009-01-06). "Former Packers' kicker Livingston dies at 63". JSOnline. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  9. "Former Packers' kicker Livingston dies at 63". Jsonline.com. 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
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