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As we’ve already seen in the NFL Playoffs, sometimes it all comes down to the kicker. The Steelers have a good one in Chris Boswell, but it wasn’t his job when the season began. The Steelers held open tryouts and Boswell was the winner, and he’ll kick in his first playoff game tonight in Denver.
Here’s more info about Boswell:
1.He Grew Up in Brazil
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Like many future kickers, Boswell’s first love was soccer. He was raised in Brazil, and was playing soccer as soon as he was walking. Boswell played as a defender for his high school soccer team, before accepting a scholarship to kick for Rice University.
According to Boswell, soccer experience helps him to direct the ball, which has obvious applications to kicking field goals.
2. The Boswells Are a Missionary Family
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You’re probably thinking that Boswell doesn’t look at all Brazilian. His family is heavily involved in missionary work, and his grandparents were missionaries in Brazil.
Boswell has been involved in Christian missionary work, but is undecided if he is interested in that role full-time after football.
3. Boswell Gained Notoriety in College With This Crazy Onsides Kick
As a college prospect, sometimes you have to be different to stand out. That’s what Boswell did at Rice, when he made a ridiculous onsides kick attempt in 2013 against Houston. Boswell tried what soccer fans know as a “rabona,” swinging his dominant foot around to the opposite side.
The move allowed the Rice kicking team a small numbers advantage on that side, which they used to recover the kick. Rice eventually lost the game, but the kick put scouts on alert of Boswell’s soccer skills.
4. Boswell Bounced Around Before the Steelers Found Him
Boswell went undrafted out of Rice, and initially couldn’t find his footing in the NFL. The second all-time leading scorer at Rice had brief preseason stints with the Texans and Giants, but couldn’t win the starting job with either team.
He won the Steelers job in early October, after the Steelers held a tryout. He first game was on Monday Night Football against the Chargers, and Boswell made a 47-yarder in his first regular-season attempt.
5.The Steelers Lost Their Starting Kicker in Preseason
For the Steelers, kicker problems were a major talking point earlier in the season. Their original starter for 2015, Shaun Suisham, had his season ended back in August. Suisham tore his ACL in the Hall of Fame Game, the first preseason action of any NFL team.
The Steelers tried going with Josh Scobee to start the regular season, acquiring him in a trade with the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick. But Scobee went just 3-7 on field goals beyond 40 yards to start the season, and was cut the same day the Steelers signed Boswell.
is a sports reporter for Heavy. Rick is a graduate of William Paterson University, and also works for MLB Advanced Media. He is passionate about all sports, but will only break things when the NY Giants are on. You can follow him @TheRickRosen. January 17, 2016 1:30 pm
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