Bolts’ Dicker makes 1st fair catch kick in 48 years

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made the longest fair catch free kick in NFL history Thursday night, as he made the 57-yard attempt to make the score 21-13 Broncos going into the half. The previous long was 52 yards by Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers in 1962.

It had appeared the Chargers would go into halftime down 11 points after Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw an interception late in the first half. But a quick three and out by the Denver Broncos‘ offense and a fair catch interference penalty by Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith gave the Chargers an untimed down to end the second half, a game they went on to win 34-27.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh chose to take a fair catch free kick, a rarely used strategy that allows a team to attempt a kick — without the opponent attempting to block it — from exactly where a fair catch was called or has been awarded as the result of a penalty. Typically, teams signal for fair catches well out of field goal range, so the strategy is not commonplace.

There have been at least 29 fair catch free kicks recorded during the regular season, according to quirkyresearch.com, with the last attempt being by Carolina kicker Joey Slye in a 2019 game against the Buccaneers. Slye missed the 60-yard attempt.

The last known player to make a fair catch free kick was Ray Wersching of the San Diego Chargers in 1976. Broncos coach Sean Payton said on the television broadcast that the team prepares for these scenarios.