In a remarkable moment for the NFL, Cameron Dicker of the Los Angeles Chargers successfully executed the league’s first fair-catch kick since 1976. This historic kick, made from 57 yards, occurred right before halftime in a game against the Denver Broncos on December 19, 2024.
The fair-catch kick is a rare play that allows a team that has just made a fair catch to attempt a free kick for three points. In this scenario, defenders must remain at least 10 yards away, making it a unique opportunity for teams to score. Unfortunately, the circumstances for such kicks are uncommon, which is why they have faded from regular use in recent years.
Dicker’s successful attempt is significant not only because it broke a 48-year drought since the last successful fair-catch kick, executed by Ray Wersching for the San Diego Chargers, but also because it is now the longest fair-catch kick in NFL history, surpassing Paul Hornung’s 52-yarder from 1964.
The opportunity for the kick arose after Denver’s Tremon Smith interfered during a fair catch, allowing the Chargers to move the ball to the Denver 47-yard line with an untimed down. Head coach Jim Harbaugh opted for the fair-catch kick for only the second time in his NFL coaching career, leading to Dicker’s impressive conversion.
Prior to this, the last attempted fair-catch kick was in 2019, when Joey Slye of Carolina missed from 60 yards. Harbaugh had previously attempted a similar kick in 2013 with the San Francisco 49ers, but Phil Dawson’s attempt from 71 yards fell short.
Dicker’s achievement not only brings excitement to Chargers fans but also revitalizes interest in a seldom-seen play, reminding everyone that the NFL is full of surprises. The rarity of this play could inspire teams in the future to take calculated risks during games, ultimately adding more dynamic strategies to the sport.
In a time when innovation in play-calling is essential, Dicker’s successful kick serves as a hopeful reminder that opportunities can arise in unexpected moments, leading to memorable highlights in sports history.