Barefoot & Clutch: The Mike Lansford Legacy
By: Jodi Salerno
In the golden era of the Los Angeles Rams, long before SoFi Stadium rose from the Inglewood dust and football became a Hollywood spectacle, there was a quiet, unfussy figure who defined cool under pressure. No gloves. No showboating. Not even shoes.
His name? Mike Lansford.
His legend? Timeless.
And his kicks? Deadly accurate—especially when it mattered most.
Lansford wasn’t your prototypical NFL player, and he didn’t care to be. Playing from 1982 to 1990, the Rams’ barefoot placekicker was a rare breed—soft-spoken, modest, and fiercely reliable. While other players entered the stadium wrapped in bravado and cleats, Mike trotted onto the field with his right foot wrapped in tape and a sock, toes bare to the California turf, and nerves made of steel. In a sport defined by chaos, he brought calm. In a game built on impact, he left his mark with quiet precision.
Born in California and raised in the heart of the Golden State, Mike Lansford embodied West Coast grit. He played college ball at the University of Washington but returned home to the sunshine, ultimately becoming the Rams’ full-time kicker in 1982. For the next nine seasons, he would become a staple of L.A. football, known for one thing above all: delivering when the pressure was at its peak.
Mike was the kind of player fans loved—And when they needed him, he was everything.
Throughout his career, Lansford had a knack for dramatic finishes. He made 13 game-winning field goals, seven of which came with less than a minute left on the clock. He never missed a field goal in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime. For Rams fans, the phrase “Send in Lansford” became a rallying cry of hope—because when the game was on the line, Mike always came through.
Perhaps his most legendary moment came on a cool December day in 1983. The Rams were playing the New Orleans Saints. The stakes? Win, and they go to the playoffs. Lose, and the season ends. The game came down to a 42-yard field goal in the final seconds. The entire SuperDome held its breath as Mike stepped onto the field—no shoe, no sweat. The snap, the hold, the kick… and straight through the uprights. Rams win. Playoffs secured. The crowd erupted, and Lansford gave a small nod, maybe a fist pump. Then he trotted off, business as usual.
That was his style. Steady. Cool. Unshakeable.
In a league that often celebrates the loudest voices, Lansford’s strength was his silence. He wasn’t looking for endorsements or headlines. He just wanted to do his job—and do it well. And in the process, he won the respect of teammates, coaches, and fans across the league.
Mike’s barefoot kicking style was more than a gimmick—it was a strategic choice. He felt better control and connection with the ball that way. Sure, it raised eyebrows. Sure, it looked unorthodox. But when you’re as accurate as Mike was, you don’t change your process. You just keep kicking—literally and figuratively.
He ended his career with an 81.6% field goal accuracy in the clutch and remains the Rams’ all-time leader in game-winning field goals. And though the franchise eventually moved and the game evolved, Lansford’s name still echoes in Rams lore.
Today, Mike Lansford lives in Newport Beach, where he enjoys the quiet that contrasts so sharply with the roaring stadiums of his past. Ask anyone who knows him, and they’ll tell you the same thing: Mike is humble. Approachable. Grounded. He’s not reliving his glory days—he’s living with gratitude for them.
When he speaks to young athletes, he emphasizes preparation, consistency, and character. “Be the person your teammates can rely on,” he says. “Not just when it’s easy—but especially when it’s hard.”
It’s that mindset that made Lansford a fan favorite, not just in Los Angeles, but here in Newport Beach, where neighbors recognize him not just as the barefoot kicker, but as a community-minded man of quiet conviction. He’s stayed close to the game, mentoring and inspiring, but he’s never chased the spotlight. He doesn’t need to. His legacy is already written—one kick at a time.
In today’s NFL, where kickers are outfitted in custom cleats and every player has a brand, Mike Lansford remains a symbol of a different era—a purer one, maybe. One where results mattered more than style, and loyalty to the team meant everything.
And while his barefoot approach may never make a comeback in the high-tech world of modern football, the message behind it still resonates: Trust your instincts. Stay calm. And when the game is on the line—step up and deliver.
Mike Lansford did just that. Every time. 🏈
Yours Truly,
Jodi Salerno
Tudaloo on the Town!
