By the late 1970s, the soccer-style kick had gained popularity and was practically ubiquitous; the last straight-on kicker in the NFL was Mark Moseley, who retired in 1986. If there is time remaining in the half, the manner of resuming play after a successful field goal differs per league. In the American Football League, if time remains on the clock when the ball is placed at the one-yard line, the team will attempt a free kick from range. If no time remains, then the ball is placed at the two-yard line with no time limit.
In the National Football League, if time remains on the clock when the ball is placed at the one-yard line, the team will attempt a 40-yard field goal. If no time remains, then the ball is placed at the two-yard line and they will try for a 30-yard field goal. Either way, a field goal is worth three points under the old AFL-NFL merger rules.
The last regular season game that wasn't decided by a touchdown or field goal was the 1979 NFC Championship Game between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings. The game ended in a 17-17 tie after both teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The following year, the rule change banning kicks off at the one-yard line was adopted by all leagues (including the AFL).
Mark Moseley, the only pure placekicker to be crowned NFL MVP, was also the last of his toe-kicking kind, as the profession became the purview of soccer-styling Garos, Horsts, and Bjorns from outside. Moseley earned the honor in 1987 after posting the highest percentage of field goals made (96.0) and besting Steve Christie's season total of 94 attempts.
He is the only kicker to win the award and he did so while playing for the Miami Dolphins. The next year, the prize went to George Blanda of the Chicago Bears despite him playing only nine games due to injuries. Blanda finished with 88 percent of his kicks making it a two-year sweep for Miami.
In 1994, the Baltimore Ravens' Brian Moorman won his only award despite being one of the least effective kickers in football during that season. His career average of 79.5 percent remains the worst among kickers with at least 50 attempts. He still holds the record for most consecutive missed field goals without a make (19).
The last player to win the honor before the modern era of kicking saw its first use in 1970 is John Hadl of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hadl played only eight seasons but was able to kick 92 percent of his tries, good for third all-time. He died of cancer at the age of 39.
The Eagles, Broncos, Rams, and Steelers were all known to kick off their shoes before the game began (except for the Rams-their kicker always wore shoes on kickoffs). Tony Franklin, the New England Patriots' kicker, even hit a 59-yard field goal while wearing no shoes.
In fact, only three players in NFL history have scored more than 100 points without kicking a single field goal: Pete Gogolak, Sid Luckman, and Adam Vinatieri. Gogolak and Luckman did not wear shoes, while Vinatieri always kicked with shoes on. However, two other players have scored 100 points without kicking any field goals at all: Chuck Carroll and Merril Hoge. Carroll and Hoge both played for the Washington Redskins during the 1994 season. They both ran 90 yards for a touchdown on their first touches of the game, and Carroll also threw a 68-yard touchdown pass that year. Neither player ever had a chance to kick a field goal because each team got a first down on their first touch. The league finally put an end to this when it decided that if a player runs with the ball, everyone else has to cover them. The last player to do this was Chuck Carroll, and since then there have been no others.
In conclusion, nobody is sure why most modern kickers don't wear shoes.
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