Ove Claes Johansson (March 31, 1948 – September 30, 2023) was an American footballplacekicker and the current holder of the record for the longest field goal ever kicked during an American football game, at 69 yards (63 m), for Abilene Christian University in their October 16, 1976 victory over East Texas State.[1] Johansson is the oldest player to be drafted in the NFL Draft, being 28 years, 281 days old when he was selected in the 12th round of the 1977 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers.[2]
Johansson had previously played association football, and the 1976 season was his first and only season to play college football. He hurt his knee in a season-ending bowl game and played in just two regular season games in the National Football League. Kicking for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1977, he was successful in only one of his four field goal attempts and one of three extra points.[6][7] Johansson was the first Swedish-born player to play in the NFL, twelve years before Björn Nittmo.
Personal life and death
Johansson was a businessman and motivational speaker in Amarillo, Texas, and was married to April (Bankes) Johansson. They have a daughter, Annika Spalding, and her husband Brett, and a son, Stefan Johansson and his partner Monica Mosier. Their grandchildren are Liv and Stellan Spalding. The family is bilingualEnglish-Swedish.
Ove Johansson died on September 30, 2023, at the age of 75.[8]