Ove Johansson kicks his world-record, 69-yard field goal on Oct. 16, 1976.
Johansson's 69-yard kick returns to limelight with NFL record-breaker
8/14/2025 12:01:00 PM | Football
A new generation of football fans now know about Abilene Christian alumnus Ove Johansson ('77) and his world-record 69-yard field goal.
With Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little drilling a 70-yarder in a preseason game on Aug. 9, Johansson's name -- and his kick -- went back into the national spotlight when it comes to the longest field goals in the history of the sport.
Johansson held the record for nearly 50 years.
It was Oct. 16, 1976; Homecoming Saturday at Abilene's Shotwell Stadium. With a 15-mph wind at his back and holder Dean Low set up at the Wildcats' own 41-yard line, Johansson's kick sailed through the goalposts on the south end with several yards to spare.
The focus coming into the game against East Texas State (now named East Texas A&M) was on running back Wilbert Montgomery, who was about to break Walter Payton's all-time collegiate career touchdown record. Johansson, too, wanted his chance at a record.
According to former ACU associate athletic director for media relations Lance Fleming's book, Wildcat Football: Three Cheers for the Purple and White, Johansson walked into head coach Wally Bullington's office the day before that fateful game.
"Coach, on Saturday, Wilbert will set a national record for touchdowns in a career," Johansson said. "And if you give me the opportunity, I will kick a world-record field goal."
He got his chance and made good on it.
Johansson made good on his life after football, too. He was a 12th round draft pick by the Houston Oilers in 1977, and was the first Swedish-born player in league history, spending short amounts of time over two seasons with the Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Johansson, and his wife, fellow ACU alumnus April Lark Bankes ('77), settled in Amarillo where they raised a family, including a daughter, Annika (Johansson) Spalding who graduated from ACU in 2006. Johansson founded Johansson and Associates Financial Services in 1980, was president of Great Nation Investment Services, and was inducted into the ACU Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
"For a world record he set in only the sixth American football game of his life, Ove Johansson's 69-yard field goal in 1976 continues to be one of the most enduring individual accomplishments in the sport, wherever it has been played at the pro, college and high school levels for nearly half a century," said Ron Hadfield, ACU editor emeritus, senior writer and university historian.
"He had a winsome, larger-than-life personality and was one of the game's most inspiring ambassadors. Ove was beloved and will always be celebrated by ACU fans as a Wildcat for the ages."
Johansson passed away in 2023 at the age of 75.
LIttle's 70-yard boot will not be included in the NFL record book because it was during a preseason game. So, technically, the official record still belongs to Johansson.
But based on a 2007 interview with Lubbock TV station KCBD, it seems Johansson would have been pleased to see someone surpass his longstanding mark.
"We've had a lot of fun with that field goal, and I'm honored to have it but records are supposed to be broken."
With Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little drilling a 70-yarder in a preseason game on Aug. 9, Johansson's name -- and his kick -- went back into the national spotlight when it comes to the longest field goals in the history of the sport.
Johansson held the record for nearly 50 years.
It was Oct. 16, 1976; Homecoming Saturday at Abilene's Shotwell Stadium. With a 15-mph wind at his back and holder Dean Low set up at the Wildcats' own 41-yard line, Johansson's kick sailed through the goalposts on the south end with several yards to spare.
The focus coming into the game against East Texas State (now named East Texas A&M) was on running back Wilbert Montgomery, who was about to break Walter Payton's all-time collegiate career touchdown record. Johansson, too, wanted his chance at a record.
According to former ACU associate athletic director for media relations Lance Fleming's book, Wildcat Football: Three Cheers for the Purple and White, Johansson walked into head coach Wally Bullington's office the day before that fateful game.
"Coach, on Saturday, Wilbert will set a national record for touchdowns in a career," Johansson said. "And if you give me the opportunity, I will kick a world-record field goal."
He got his chance and made good on it.
Johansson made good on his life after football, too. He was a 12th round draft pick by the Houston Oilers in 1977, and was the first Swedish-born player in league history, spending short amounts of time over two seasons with the Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Johansson, and his wife, fellow ACU alumnus April Lark Bankes ('77), settled in Amarillo where they raised a family, including a daughter, Annika (Johansson) Spalding who graduated from ACU in 2006. Johansson founded Johansson and Associates Financial Services in 1980, was president of Great Nation Investment Services, and was inducted into the ACU Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
"For a world record he set in only the sixth American football game of his life, Ove Johansson's 69-yard field goal in 1976 continues to be one of the most enduring individual accomplishments in the sport, wherever it has been played at the pro, college and high school levels for nearly half a century," said Ron Hadfield, ACU editor emeritus, senior writer and university historian.
"He had a winsome, larger-than-life personality and was one of the game's most inspiring ambassadors. Ove was beloved and will always be celebrated by ACU fans as a Wildcat for the ages."
Johansson passed away in 2023 at the age of 75.
LIttle's 70-yard boot will not be included in the NFL record book because it was during a preseason game. So, technically, the official record still belongs to Johansson.
But based on a 2007 interview with Lubbock TV station KCBD, it seems Johansson would have been pleased to see someone surpass his longstanding mark.
"We've had a lot of fun with that field goal, and I'm honored to have it but records are supposed to be broken."
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