José Antonio Cortez (born May 27, 1975) is a Salvadoran former professionalfootballplacekicker. He played for 10National Football League (NFL) teams, as well as short stints inNFL Europe, theXFL, and theArena Football League (AFL). His longest stints were two season stints with theSan Francisco 49ers andMinnesota Vikings. He playedcollege football atOregon State University. He is the first Salvadoran to play in the NFL.^[1]

Cortez arrived in theUnited States with his mother and younger sister at the age of 15, without any legal documents, to get away from the civil war ravaging his natal country. He reunited with his father and older sister, who were already living inVan Nuys, California.^[2]

He did not speak any English, when he first began attendingVan Nuys High School. He was the goalkeeper of the soccer squad for two years, before trying out for the football team as a senior.^[3]

Cortez enrolled atLos Angeles Valley College, where he was both the kicker andpunter. As a freshman in 1995, he contributed to the team winning the Community College Championship.

He transferred after his sophomore season toOregon State University, where he was a two-yearletterman. As a junior, he was named the starter at placekicker and received honorable-mentionAll-Pac-10 honors, after converting 11-of-19field goal attempts (57.9%), with a long of 45 yards.

As a senior, he made 17-of-26 field goals (65.4%). Against California, he connected three field goals longer than 50 yards (50, 52, 55). He finished his college career after making 28-of-47 field goal attempts (62.2%).

Cortez was signed as anundrafted free agent by theCleveland Browns after the1999 NFL draft, on April 23.^[4] He was waived after four preseason games on September 3.

On September 14, he was signed by theSan Diego Chargers. He was released on November 30.

On December 15, 1999, he was signed to thepractice squad of theNew York Giants .^[5] On December 17, he was promoted to the active roster.^[6] He played in one game with the Giants, where he had two kickoffs and did not attempt any field goals. He was released on December 22.^[7]

In February 2000, he was signed by theSan Diego Chargers and allocated to theAmsterdam Admirals ofNFL Europe. Due to a rule requiring national players to kick short field goals, Cortez shared duties with Dutchsoccer playerSilvio Diliberto. He made 5-of-7 field goal attempts between 40 and 49 yards and tied for the league lead for most field goals made (9). He returned to the Chargers and was released before the start of the season on August 27.

In 2000, he was selected by theLos Angeles Xtreme with the 304th pick in the 2000XFL Draft, reuniting with head coachAl Luginbill, who coached him with the Admirals. Although he missed 3 of his first 5 field goal attempts, he went on to make 13 of his next 14. Cortez, along withquarterbackTommy Maddox, contributed to the Xtreme having a 7–3 record and winning the XFL Championship. Cortez also led the league in scoring with 20 field goals and earnedMost Valuable Player honors in the title game, after kicking four field goals.^[8]

In 2001, Cortez's success in the XFL earned him a starting spot with theSan Francisco 49ers, who signed him on April 26.^[9] He began the season by making 11 straight field goal attempts. He missed seven of his last 14 field goal attempts, including five that were blocked. He finished with 18-of-25 field goals (72%) and 47-of-47 extra points (100%).

In 2002, he had a streak of 13 field goals made at the start of the season. His problems began in the eighth game against theOakland Raiders, missing a 27-yard field goal at the end of regulation, although the 49ers were able to win 23–20 in overtime, with Cortez redeeming himself with a 23-yard game-winning field goal. However, he would end up missing four field goal attempts in his last three games and was 50 percent (three of six) from 40 yards or more. In the tenth game against theSan Diego Chargers, he missed a 41-yard field goal attempt in overtime, costing the 49ers a 17–20 loss. On November 26, he was cut after the game.^[10] He converted 18-of-24 field goal attempts (75%) in 10 games and was perfect on 25 extra-point attempts.

On December 2, 2002, he was signed by theWashington Redskins to replace kickerJames Tuthill.^[11] He remained the rest of the season with the team, making 5-of-8 field goals (62.5%) and 9-of-9 extra points (100%).

In 2003, he was signed by theKansas City Chiefs. He was cut on August 25.^[12]

On October 17, 2003, he was signed by theMinnesota Vikings.^[13] On October 28, 2003, he was cut by the Vikings.^[14] In 2003, he was re-signed by the Vikings and kicked in the last two games of the season. On November 10, 2004, he was re-signed by the Vikings. He appeared in a total of 10 games in 2 seasons with the Vikings and only handled kickoffs.

On August 7, 2005, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys to compete withBilly Cundiff for the starting job. He would end up making the team. On October 15, Cortez contributed to a 16–13 victory against the New York Giants by hitting a 45-yard field goal in overtime. He is mostly remembered by Cowboys fans for what happened in the third game against theSan Francisco 49ers, when the strugglinglong snapperJon Condo made an errant snap on an extra point attempt, which affected Cortez's timing and hooked the ball to the left side of the goal posts. While Cortez started mouthing off towards Condo, future hall of famerLarry Allen shoved his face mask and shifted his helmet towards the side. The Cowboys were still able to win 34–31.^[15] On October 23, he missed a 29-yard field goal in a 13–10 loss against the Seattle Seahawks. On October 24, he was released and replaced with rookieShaun Suisham. Cortez made 12-of-16 field goals and was 3-of-6 on attempts longer than 40 yards.

On October 25, 2005, he was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles to handle kickoffs while David Akers recovered from an injury.^[16] He was released on November 22.

On November 25, 2005, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers, to replace an injured Joe Nedney (groin).^[17] He was cut on December 6.

On December 21, 2005, he was signed by theIndianapolis Colts to handle the kickoffs for the rest of the season and allowMike Vanderjagt to focus on only kicking field goals.^[18] On March 14, 2006, he was re-signed by the Colts. He was released on April 3.

* XFL rules prohibited extra-point kicks.

After retiring from the NFL, Cortez joined theOregon State Police as a Trooper. Graduating from the Oregon State Police Academy in December 2007, he began patrol in May 2008, receiving his trooper stripes in January 2009.

Cortez was fired in 2013 after being sentenced to seven days in jail for official misconduct on the job. Cortez was accused of fondling a woman during a DUI stop. He also received one year of probation.^[19]

• José Cortez atESPN.com
• For Cortez, Misses Don't Compare With Past Ordeals
• Los Angeles Xtreme bio

• 1975 births
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