Even 55 years on, Tom Dempsey’s legendary field goal remains one of the most extraordinary moments in sports history. In 1970, the New Orleans Saints, reeling from a tumultuous season and a recent coaching change, faced the Detroit Lions in a classic underdog scenario. With mere seconds left on the clock, Dempsey, a generational talent in American football, was tasked with a seemingly impossible 63-yard field goal attempt—seven yards beyond the existing NFL record.
Against all odds, Dempsey’s kick was true and straight, soaring over two-thirds of the field to clinch a victory that no one in the stadium could quite believe. This remarkable feat was made even more incredible by the fact that Dempsey accomplished it with only half a kicking foot.
The Few Men with Disabilities in Elite Sports
Born without toes on his right foot and fingers on his right hand, Tom Dempsey is among a select group of men with disabilities who have left a lasting mark on mainstream sports. This stands in contrast to women’s sports, where disability representation has become more common in recent years. Meanwhile, men’s sports continue to lag in areas like LGBTQIA+ participation.
A decade before soccer player Carson Pickett made headlines as the first player with a limb difference to represent the U.S. women’s team, Spaniard Álex Sanchez was blazing trails in men’s soccer. In 2009, Sanchez became the first player with a limb difference to play in La Liga, Spain’s premier football league. Although he retired in 2025, Sanchez considers his role as a representative for athletes with disabilities his most significant achievement.
Sanchez’s Journey Through Soccer
For much of his early career, Sanchez struggled with how his disability was perceived. “The only problem I had was tying my boots when I was a kid,” Sanchez told ABC Sport. “I didn’t realize I had a disability. The only thing important was to score the goals.”
However, as he approached his professional debut, Sanchez was taken aback by the media frenzy surrounding him. Despite being a relatively unknown 19-year-old, his debut for Real Zaragoza made front-page news, accompanied by a crude term for his disability. “I was like, ‘what the f*** is this?'” Sanchez recalled, describing his shock at the insensitivity.
After that, media attention intensified, and Sanchez soon stopped engaging with the press. “All their questions related to disability, and some were not the way I wanted to speak about it,” he said. “Honestly, I felt like a monkey in the circus.”
Dempsey’s ‘Sledgehammer’ Shoe Controversy
Following his record-breaking kick, Tom Dempsey faced similar scrutiny. Known for kicking barefoot in college, Dempsey had a custom shoe designed for his NFL career, featuring a nearly 5-centimeter block of leather at the front. Despite its legality being cleared by the NFL, critics like Dallas Cowboys GM Tex Schramm argued that Dempsey’s shoe gave him an “unfair advantage.”
“Unfair, eh? How ’bout you try kicking a 63-yard field goal to win it with two seconds left and you’re wearing a square shoe,” Dempsey famously retorted.
In 1977, the NFL introduced the “Tom Dempsey rule,” mandating that players with artificial limbs wear footwear conforming to standard dimensions. No evidence ever supported claims of an unfair advantage, and an ESPN Sport Science report suggested the shoe may have hindered Dempsey’s performance.
The Importance of Role Models in Sports
Despite media challenges, both Dempsey and Sanchez have left lasting legacies. For Sanchez, a pivotal moment came when a young fan with a similar disability thanked him for being an inspiration. “I knew I couldn’t be shy, I had to do something—there’re a lot of kids like him,” Sanchez said.
By the time Sanchez moved to Australia to play for Sydney Olympic, he was an outspoken advocate for disability representation. He thrived both on and off the pitch, leading Olympic to its first championship in three decades and cherishing his time in Australia as the best of his life.
After a successful career spanning multiple countries and the completion of four university degrees, Sanchez retired in 2025. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “It was the most positive point of my career, playing in La Liga with my disability.”
The stories of Tom Dempsey and Álex Sanchez highlight the triumphs and trials faced by athletes with disabilities in mainstream sports. Their legacies continue to inspire new generations, challenging perceptions and paving the way for greater inclusivity.
