An undrafted free agent pickup after being released by the Los Angeles Rams, Jim Bakken signed with St. Louis in 1962 and proceeded to anchor the franchise's kicking game for 17 seasons. His arrival coincided with a rapid evolution in special teams tactics, turning a former Wisconsin defensive back into one of the sport's pioneering full-time placekicking specialists.

Operating with a traditional, straight-on kicking style, Bakken was renowned for his mental composure, trajectory control, and execution in heavy crosswinds. Beyond his scoring, his endurance was exceptional: between 1963 and 1978, he appeared in 234 consecutive regular-season games for the Cardinals, establishing an ironclad attendance record at the position.

Bakken's early peak included an iconic performance on September 24, 1967, against Pittsburgh. Playing through gusting winds at Pitt Stadium, Bakken converted 7 field goals in a single game, setting an NFL record that stood untouched for four decades. That historic afternoon propelled him to the 1967 NFL scoring title with 117 points while earning his second career Pro Bowl invitation.

He sustained an elite competitive level straight into the mid-1970s as the high-scoring "Air Coryell" offenses provided constant field-position scoring opportunities. Bakken turned in back-to-back dominant years in 1975 and 1976, earning consensus First-Team All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl nods in both campaigns. His consistency across two distinct decades earned him selections to both the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team and the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.

By the time he hung up his cleats following the 1978 season, Bakken had accumulated 1,380 total points, converting 282 field goals and 534 extra points. That total ranked second in NFL history at the time of his retirement and remains an untouched Cardinals franchise scoring record.