Raiders' Chris Bahr Could Kick in More Ways Than One

The Las Vegas Raiders' history of special teams superstars is lengthy, and Chris Bahr could kick in more ways than one.

That Chris Bahr ever kicked for the Oakland-Los Angeles Raiders, let alone become one of the best in franchise history, is fantastic by itself.

The 5-10 170-pound Bahr was selected in the second round (No. 51 overall) of the 1976 National Football League Draft out of Penn State by the Cincinnati Bengals after an All-American season. That move paid off immediately, as he was named to the 1976 All-Rookie Team and selected to the 1977 All-American Conference Football Team by The Sporting News.

Then Bahr started his pro career playing for the Philadelphia Atoms of the North American Soccer League, perhaps because his father, Walter Bahr, had been an international star. He eventually switched to football after scoring 11 goals in 22 games as a rookie.

After four outstanding seasons for the Bengals, Managing General Al Davis of the Raiders pulled off one of those remarkable moves for which he was known when he signed and left Cincinnati as a free agent.

Bahr became the third-leading scorer in Raiders history behind fellow kickers Sebastian Janikowski and George Blanda. However, he figures to eventually be caught and passed by the latest outstanding kicker for the Silver and Black, Daniel Carlson.

In nine seasons with the Raiders. Bahr made 162-of-249 field goal attempts (65.1 percent) and 331-of-350 extra-point tries (94.6) for 817 points. His best season was in 1983 when he was 21-of-27 on field goals (77.8 percent) and 51-of-53 on extra points for a career-high total of 114 points. His career-long field goal was 55 yards in 1979 with the Bengals, and he also made a 53-yarder and two from 52 yards.

For Bahr, coming to the Raiders was a match made in heaven.

“I was meant to be a Raider,” said Bahr, who spent his last pro season kicking for the San Diego Chargers. “Considering that the Bengals had gone 4-12 my last two years with them and to end up being a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Raiders, it was just incredible.

“Living in the Bay Area and being able to play for a team with such a legacy, the mystique and the attitude. I’ve always considered myself a Raider, and it fit perfect for me.”

Bahr also made 15-of-19 field goal attempts, and all 33 of his extra-point tries in post-season games for the Raiders, including field goals of 46 and 35 yards, plus three extra points as the Raiders beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10, in Super Bowl XV, and five extra points and a 21-yard field goal in a 38-9 victory over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII.

While finishing his career with San Diego Chargers, Bahr kicked 17 field goals and 19 extra points to finish his NFL 14-year career by making 87-of-111 field goal attempts and 490-of-519 extra point tries for 1,213 points.

Bahr, whose brother, Matt, also kicked in the NFL and played the NASL, seemed to be heading for a soccer career when he scored both goals as the United States National soccer team defeated Bermuda in an Olympic qualifying game.

Not only that, his father, Walter, is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and his mother, Davies Ann, was a champion swimmer at Temple University, but Raiders are glad Bahr went with football.

After his NFL career, Bahr graduated from Southwestern Law School and practiced law in California and Pennsylvania until 1999. He is now a financial consultant, managing assets for professional athletes. Bahr holds the annual Chris Bahr Kicking Camp, a three-day clinic for students in grades 7-12 at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa.

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