Fred Cox — American football placekicker and inventor of the Nerf football
Fred Cox (1938–2019) was an American professional placekicker best known for his years with the Minnesota Vikings and for creating the soft foam toy that became the Nerf football.
Fred William Cox was an American professional football placekicker and entrepreneur whose career spanned the 1960s and 1970s. He is remembered both for his long tenure with the Minnesota Vikings and for originating a soft, foam practice ball that evolved into the commercial Nerf football. Born in 1938, Cox combined a reputation for accuracy on the field with an ability to turn a simple idea into a popular toy product.
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Football career and playing style
Cox played college football at the University of Pittsburgh, where he developed the kicking skills that would define his professional career. After entering the National Football League he became the primary placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings, serving the club through its rise into perennial contenders. He participated on Vikings teams that reached multiple league championship games and Super Bowls, becoming known for reliable field-goal kicking and extra points.
Invention of the Nerf football
Off the field, Cox experimented with a small, soft foam ball intended for safe backyard play and practice. His idea—creating a pliable, lightweight football that could be thrown indoors or by children without injury or damage—led to a commercially produced foam football marketed under the Nerf name. That toy helped broaden the concept of safe, indoor sports play and became a recognizable product in several generations of children.
Legacy and influence
Cox's legacy is twofold: as a dependable professional athlete and as an innovator whose simple design had lasting cultural impact. In sports circles he is remembered for his consistency and for helping his team through a successful era. In the toy industry his contribution is cited as an example of a sportsman identifying a practical consumer need and turning it into a mass-market product.
Personal life and death
After retiring from football, Cox remained associated with his community in Minnesota and with promotional activities related to his toy design. He died on November 20, 2019, in Monticello, Minnesota of complications related to kidney disease; contemporary reports noted his age and the dual nature of his public accomplishments. See contemporary coverage for more on his passing: news report.
Notable facts
- College: played for the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt).
- Best known professionally as the Vikings' placekicker during their 1960s–1970s prominence.
- Credited with creating the original concept that became the Nerf foam football.
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AlegsaOnline.com Fred Cox — American football placekicker and inventor of the Nerf football Leandro Alegsa
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