Former NFL Kicker and SMU Great Unexpectedly Dies at 65

Former Green Bay Packers kicker Eddie Garcia passed away at his home in Poygan, Wisconsin last week. He was 65. 

The tenth-round pick in the 1982 NFL Draft spent three seasons with the Packers. While at SMU, Garcia earned first-team All SWC honors in 1980 and was a second-team AP All-American in 1981 for the Mustangs. As of the 2024 season, Garcia ranks 5th all-time in career points for SMU with 262 (130 PATs and 44 field goals)

Garcia kicked in 19 NFL games over the 1983 and '84 seasons, making three of nine field goal attempts. In his first season, he handled the kickoff duties while Jan Stenerud kicked field goals and extra points.

In 1984, Garcia was the kicker for seven games until he injured his hamstring and was placed on injured reserve. He was waived following the season, according to the Packers.

Garcia was elected to the Packers' board of directors in 2021 and served on the sales and marketing and Green Bay Packers Foundation committees.