Steve Little

Steven Richard Little (February 19, 1956 – September 6, 1999) was an American football kicker and punter in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is the third-highest drafted kicker in NFL history, behind Charlie Gogolak (6th, 1966) of Princeton and Russell Erxleben (11th, 1979) of Texas. Little was drafted higher than future NFL greats Ozzie Newsome and Todd Christensen. Little was an All-American placekicker and punter during his years at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He kicked an NCAA record-tying 67-yard field goal on October 15, 1977. That record has yet to be broken; it was set by Erxleben two weeks earlier on October 1, 1977, and is shared with Joe Williams of Wichita State (October 21, 1978). High school and college career Little played high school football for Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park, Kansas, where he was an all-state quarterback and defensive back. He was recruited to play football for the University of Arkansas by legendary Arkansas head coach Frank Broyles. Broyles later said that he initially recruited Little to play quarterback since Joe Ferguson had recently graduated and entered the NFL. However Little's kicking abilities so impressed Broyles that they utilized him in that position. Also coach Bo Rein had recently accepted an assistant coaching position with Arkansas, and was bringing with him high school standout quarterback Ron Calcagni. In 1975, Little helped Arkansas in its defeat of Georgia in the Cotton Bowl. In 1977, he earned All-America honors and kicked a still-standing NCAA D-I record 67-yard field goal against Texas on Oct. 15th. He helped the Razorbacks to an upset victory in the Orange Bowl over Oklahoma. During Little's career with Arkansas, the Razorbacks went in 1975, in 1976, and in 1977. During his final year at Arkansas Little played under head coach Lou Holtz.