Charlie Conerly - Extra Point Mystery
Posted: Tue May 19, 2026 8:44 pm
I have another inquiry related to my research into one-point conversions by pass or run between 1950-1993. Charlie Conerly, New York Giant great and holder, had three extra point conversions by run in his career. Each of them occurred when the defense was offsides and Conerly, the holder, simply got up and ran in for the conversion.
October 19, 1952 vs the Cardinals (third quarter); video of the play
November 23, 1952 vs the Redskins (third quarter); newspaper description
October 10, 1954 vs the Redskins (fourth quarter). Newspaper account #1 of the play, Newspaper Article #2
No one else in my research across the 1950-1993 seasons scored via offsides on a conversion run. The NFL did not change the rule on offsides / encroachment until the 1980s so it is not a rule change. I have looked into numerous articles on Conerly and two books on him, but can not find anything that would provide a hint on why this happened three times with him, and never happened with other players. Does anyone have possible insights into why this occurred exclusively with him as holder? Did the Giants of that time use a snap count, and he was a master at cadence changes, or was it just his quick thinking when offsides occurred? Thanks in advance.
October 19, 1952 vs the Cardinals (third quarter); video of the play
November 23, 1952 vs the Redskins (third quarter); newspaper description
October 10, 1954 vs the Redskins (fourth quarter). Newspaper account #1 of the play, Newspaper Article #2
No one else in my research across the 1950-1993 seasons scored via offsides on a conversion run. The NFL did not change the rule on offsides / encroachment until the 1980s so it is not a rule change. I have looked into numerous articles on Conerly and two books on him, but can not find anything that would provide a hint on why this happened three times with him, and never happened with other players. Does anyone have possible insights into why this occurred exclusively with him as holder? Did the Giants of that time use a snap count, and he was a master at cadence changes, or was it just his quick thinking when offsides occurred? Thanks in advance.