Clay Rush

Clay Jackson Rush (born October 27, 1973) is an American former professional football kicker who played ten seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Iowa Barnstormers/New York Dragons, Indiana Firebirds, Colorado Crush, Kansas City Brigade, and Arizona Rattlers. He played college football at Triton College, Harper College, and Missouri Western State University, earning third-team All-American honors as a junior in 1994. After playing minor league football, Rush signed with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) in 1998 but was later released before playing for them. He then played in the AFL from 1999 to 2008. He was named the AFL Kicker of the Year in both 2000 and 2003. Rush was also a four-time All-Arena selection. He made the game-winning kick as time expired in ArenaBowl XIX. He also had offseason stints in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, and New York Jets.

Early life and college Clay Jackson Rush was born on October 27, 1973, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was named an NCAA Division II third-team All-American for his performance during the 1994 season. Rush left the team after his junior year. He majored in exercise science at Missouri Western State. Prior to signing with the Lions, he had been playing with the minor league St. Louis Bulldogs. Rush then returned to play for the Bulldogs in August 1998.

Rush signed with the Shreveport Knights of the Regional Football League in May 1999, and played for them during the spring 1999 season. Through his first two games, he was perfect on extra points and had converted three of four field goals. Rush also punted for the Knights. On June 26, in his first game with the Barnstormers, he made a game-winning 21-yard field goal to help Iowa beat the Albany Firebirds by a score of 77–76. He played in five games for the Barnstormers during the 1999 AFL season, converting eight of nine field goals and 34 of 39 extra points.

Rush signed with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL on February 12, 2000. He was released by the Falcons on March 14, 2000. Rush had reportedly wanted to play for the Barnstormers instead of going to Europe. He played in all 14 games for the Barnstormers during the 2000 season, recording 16 of 28 field goals, 99 of 105 extra points, four solo tackles, one assisted tackle, and one fumble recovery as the Barnstormers finished the season with a 9–5 record. Rush set a team kicking record for total points that year and also made a Barnstormers-record 56-yard field goal. He led the league in field goal percentage (57.1%), extra points made (99), extra point percentage (94.3%), and kicking points (147). He was named first-team All-Arena and the AFL Kicker of the Year for his performance during the 2000 season. While with the Barnstormers, Rush revealed that his kicking strategy involved aiming for signs above the end zones. Rush played in two preseason games for the Redskins as a kickoff specialist. He was released on August 21, 2000, after Conway returned from injury. He had a workout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL in January 2003 but was not signed. On January 22, 2003, The Indianapolis Star noted that Rush's specialties were kicking the ball over the rebound net in order to prevent a return by the opposing team, and also kicking the ball high off of the net to try and cause a turnover. Rush was named first-team All-Arena and AFL Kicker of the Year for the second time in his career. Rush signed with the NFL's New York Jets on June 4, 2003, for the league minimum of $225,000. He shared kickoff duties with Danny Kight during the preseason. Rush was released by the Jets on August 12, 2003, after the second preseason game. Rush appeared in all 16 games for Indiana again in 2004, converting 15 of 36 field goals and 83 of 99 extra points while posting four solo tackles and leading the league with 47 touchbacks.

On October 15, 2004, Rush was signed by the AFL's Colorado Crush. He made a 62-yard field goal on February 27, 2005, which was the second longest in AFL history. He played in all 16 AFL games for the third straight season in 2005, making 14 of 31 field goals and 105 of 118 extra points while also leading the AFL in touchbacks again. The next year, he was placed on emergency hold on March 5, 2006, and placed on injured reserve the next day.

Rush then signed with the Arizona Rattlers of the AFL on May 15, 2007. He played in the final five games of the season for the Rattlers, converting four of eight field goals and 24 of 29 extra points.

Rush re-signed with the Crush on November 5, 2007. Rush finished his AFL career with 127 field goals and 798 extra points, third most in league history (at the time) behind Steve Videtich and Remy Hamilton in both categories.

Personal life Rush also spent time as a youth and college kicking coach during his AFL career. However, the team doctor denied these claims, stating that he told the Crush that Rush should not be allowed to play. In June 2012, a "seven-figure" settlement was reached between Rush and a Denver hospital.