Rich Karlis kicked barefoot mainly because he felt it gave him better feel and control of the ball, and the habit stuck as part of his identity as a kicker. Over time, the barefoot look also became a trademark style that made him stand out as “the last NFL barefoot kicker.”

Quick background

  • Rich Karlis was an NFL placekicker in the 1980s, best known for his barefoot kicking with the Denver Broncos, Vikings, and Lions.
  • He became a memorable figure in league history for big playoff kicks and for being one of the very few modern kickers to go without a shoe.

Why he chose to kick barefoot

  • Some 1980s kickers believed barefoot contact gave better touch, feel, and control of where the ball would go on field goals and kickoffs.
  • Karlis has described the style as something that “worked” for him once he tried it, so he kept it rather than switching back to a shoe.

Was there any real advantage?

  • Later commentary notes there was no strong scientific or football-based reason proving barefoot was superior; it was more preference and comfort than hard data.
  • Most kickers preferred specialized boots for protection and consistency, which is why the barefoot trend faded and Karlis ended up as the last to do it regularly.

How it became his trademark

  • Karlis hit several high-profile kicks barefoot, including long field goals in pressure moments, which locked in the image of him as the “barefoot Bronco.”
  • Even in modern interviews and business profiles, his post-football life is introduced with a nod to his barefoot-kicker past because fans still associate him with that look.

TL;DR: Rich Karlis kicked barefoot because it felt more natural and controllable to him, not because of a proven performance edge, and it evolved into his unique on-field identity.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.