INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Among the various rules in football, Jim Harbaugh expresses a particular fondness for the unusual fair-catch kick. Last Thursday night, the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers was presented with a rare opportunity to utilize this rule for only the second time in his coaching career. The moment turned out to be significant, as his kicker successfully scored three points from this unique play.

Cameron Dicker achieved something remarkable by making the first fair-catch kick in the NFL since 1976, successfully driving a 57-yard kick through the goalposts just before halftime in a game against the Denver Broncos. “Every game, I’ve been hoping to get one of those,” Harbaugh remarked. “Cam Dicker stepped up and executed perfectly. This was a huge kick that helped shift the momentum back to us.” Dicker’s contribution played a crucial role in the Chargers’ 34-27 comeback victory, as they concluded the game with a 24-6 run.

For football enthusiasts like Harbaugh, who thrive on unconventional plays and rare occurrences, Dicker’s kick was a highlight. The fair-catch rule provides a team with a chance to initiate a free kick for three points immediately after a fair catch is made. Unlike standard kick situations, the attempt is made from the line of scrimmage, and all defenders must maintain a distance of 10 yards. Due to its rarity, this rule is seldom utilized, and before Dicker’s successful attempt, only five NFL teams had even attempted it in the 21st century.

“It feels cool to accomplish something so rare,” Dicker commented after the game. “Being out there and participating in that moment was exhilarating, especially with the penalty leading up to it.” The opportunity arose when Denver’s Tremon Smith committed fair-catch interference, which occurred on what would have been the last play of the first half as Derius Davis of the Chargers tried to catch a punt at their 38-yard line.

Smith later acknowledged his awareness of the fair-catch kick rule when the Chargers lined up for the chance. “I’ve played long enough to understand the rules,” he explained. “This was just a foolish mistake. The returner did a great job of claiming that penalty, knowing full well he was heading into me without having a chance to catch the ball.” The penalty allowed the Chargers to advance the ball to Denver’s 47-yard line for an untimed down. Harbaugh took a strategic timeout before opting to go for the fair catch kick.

With J.K. Scott serving as the holder, Dicker made his kick effortlessly, adding to the excitement of the moment. Dicker shared that special teams coach Ryan Ficken frequently reviews this particular play and that they practice it occasionally on Fridays. Harbaugh credited Ficken for reintroducing the concept in discussions leading up to the game. “When I glanced over at Denver’s sideline, I noticed the confusion on their faces. For us, it felt completely natural because we prepare for this regularly,” Dicker said.

Some members of the Broncos believed they understood the situation and expressed disappointment at being part of this rare event. “We definitely have discussed this in our special teams meetings, and situations like this are covered during training camp,” remarked Denver wide receiver Marvin Mims. “We anticipated what would occur, and they executed perfectly.”

Dicker’s successful 57-yarder not only marked a significant achievement for him but also set the record for the longest fair-catch kick in NFL history, surpassing the previous mark of 52 yards held by Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers in 1964. The last attempted fair-catch kick prior to this event took place in 2019, when Joey Slye of the Carolina Panthers narrowly missed from 60 yards during a game in London. Harbaugh had previously tried this kick as coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2013, but Phil Dawson’s 71-yard attempt fell short.

Reflecting on his earlier attempt, Harbaugh stated, “I was eager to try it, and I was thrilled that Coach Ficken had prepared us for this moment. We used a timeout to organize ourselves, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to try.” This play is infrequently seen because typical fair catches happen beyond the standard range for field goals. The Broncos’ punt initially posed a challenge for the Chargers, but Smith’s penalty opened the door for Dicker to take his shot, which he successfully converted.

Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa expressed surprise at the turn of events, humorously commenting, “I was just getting ready to head into the locker room, but I’m relieved we had a chance. Sometimes you can be on the field for years and still find yourself confused. It was an impressive moment, and it certainly shifted the game’s momentum.” Wersching, who played for both the Chargers and the 49ers across a 15-year NFL career, previously made a successful 45-yard fair-catch kick back in 1976.

“It’s an uncommon occurrence,” summed up Broncos coach Sean Payton. “We practice these scenarios regularly. However, the penalty allowed them to be in a favorable position for the kick, which is disappointing.”