Landeta was the last active NFL player who played in the United States Football League of the 1980s. Landeta was also the last active player who appeared in the popular 1988 NES video game Tecmo Bowl. Landeta was also the last active player of the New York Giants 1986 and 1990 Super Bowl teams.
By the end of the 2005 season, Landeta had amassed 1,401 punts for 60,707 yards (43.3 yards per punt average), with 381 punts in the 20 and 166 touchbacks and a 35.3 net yard average. His punts, punting yards, and punts landing inside the 20 are all among the NFL's top 5 leaders in each category.
On December 2, 2006, the New York Giants signed Landeta as an insurance policy when punter Jeff Feagles developed a sore right knee.1 Landeta was assigned jersey number 5—the same number he wore during his first tenure with the Giants. He appeared on the sidelines against the Dallas Cowboys on December 3, as Feagles appeared in his 300th NFL game, but Landeta remained inactive, and was released on December 6.
On March 6, 2008, the 25th anniversary of the first USFL game, Landeta officially announced his retirement from football. He became the last USFL player to retire from professional football.
High school career
Landeta grew up in Maryland. At Loch Raven High School in Towson, Maryland, Landeta was an All-City and All-Metro punter in his only season (1978). He first began playing organized football as a high school senior.
