Tom Miner

Thomas Earl Miner (May 14, 1932 – January 1, 1988) was an American professional football player in the National Football League (NFL) and Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU). He played college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1954 NFL draft. He played end/placekicker in the WIFU and placekicker in the NFL. Miner led the NFL in field goals in 1958.

Early life Thomas Earl Miner was born on May 14, 1932, in Checotah, Oklahoma. Miner led the country in extra points in 1952, converting 41 of 45 attempts. He finished his college career with 83 field goals made on 98 attempts. On January 28, 1954, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round, with the 31st overall pick, of the 1954 NFL draft. He played in 15 of 16 games for the Stampeders during the 1954 season, recording 24 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown, 40 kickoffs for 2,146 yards, 14 of 30 field goals, 33 of 36 extra points, and four rouges as the Stampeders finished 8–8. Miner's 84 points were second in the WIFU behind Joe Aguirre's 85. They also both broke the league field goal record set by Bud Korchak in 1953. The Province noted that Aguirre and Miner were notably missing from the 1954 WIFU All-Star Team.

On March 20, 1956, it was reported that Miner had been traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for Dick Huffman, Harry Wilson, and John Bodrug. Miner played in all 16 games for Winnipeg in 1956, accumulating five receptions for 67 yards, eight of 15 field goals, two of six extra points, two rouges, and six fumble recoveries for 88 yards and one touchdown. Miner became a free agent after the season. He served as an assistant football coach at Tulsa while sitting out the 1957 season.

On April 30 1958, Miner signed with the Steelers as a kicking specialist. He played in all 12 games for the Steelers during the 1958 season, scoring 31 of 31 extra points and 14 of 28 field goals. Miner was released on September 25, 1959, a day before the start of the 1959 regular season.

Personal life Miner was an assistant football coach at Tulsa again from 1960 to 1962. He later served as a west coast scout for the Cleveland Browns for 12 years, and afterwards as a west coast scout for the Atlanta Falcons. He died of a heart attack on January 1, 1988, at his home in Tucson, Arizona.