MUST SEE: NFL Kicker Makes History In Bizarre Play

We usually don’t cover sports here at the WLT Report, but this play by the San Diego Chargers was quite rare.

San Diego Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made history on Thursday night after kicking the longest free kick in NFL history.

Dicker kicked a 57-yard free kick in the Chargers 34-27 win over the Denver Broncos.

The previous record was 52 yards by Green Bay Packers kicker Paul Hornung in 1962.

A free kick is “A little known NFL rule allows a team the right to take a free kick from the line of scrimmage on the next play following a fair catch. It essentially is a field goal with a holder (but no snap) and without a rush as the defense has to stand at least 10 yards from the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked.”

Take a look:

A rare fair catch free kick results in a Cameron Dicker 57-yard FG for the @Chargers 🤯

It's the first free kick FG since 1976! pic.twitter.com/yb0cyPuKnR

— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2024

Understanding the rule the Chargers utilized on the fair catch / free kick 📝 pic.twitter.com/RsHUj06jYm

— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2024

Per ESPN:

Cameron Dicker made the longest fair catch free kick in NFL history at the end of the second quarter of the Los Angeles Chargers’ 34-27 win over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night.

Dicker made the 57-yarder on the seldom-used play, which allows a team that has just made a fair catch to attempt a field goal without the opponent trying to block it. The kick shortened the Broncos’ lead to 21-13 at the half and proved to be a spark for the Chargers, who outscored Denver 21-6 over the next two quarters.

The longest previous fair catch free kick was a 52-yarder by Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers in 1962.

The Chargers looked as if they would go into halftime down 11 points after quarterback Justin Herbert was intercepted by cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine late in the first half. But a quick three-and-out by the Broncos’ offense and a fair catch interference penalty on Denver cornerback Tremon Smith gave Los Angeles an untimed down to end the half.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh chose to take the fair catch free kick, which by rule is attempted from 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.

Dicker lauded special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken postgame, telling reporters that he prepares the team weekly for such a scenario. Dicker said he didn’t know the rule until he met Ficken in 2022.

🚨🚨WE HAVE WITNESSED HISTORY🚨🚨#CHARGERS, DICKER THE KICKER HITS THE FAIR CATCH FREE KICK FROM 57 YARDS OUT.

The last successful fair catch kick was done by the Chargers in 1976 by Ray Wersching. This is the longest free kick in NFL HISTORY.

🤯🤯🤯pic.twitter.com/Rm9TeB1ztF

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 20, 2024

Per The NFL:

With no time left on the clock in the first half Thursday night, kicker Cameron Dicker and the Los Angeles Chargers made some history.

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Dicker converted a 57-yard fair-catch field goal, the first such made kick since 1976, to end the half, cutting the Chargers’ deficit to eight points and sparking a rally that led to a 34-27 win against the Denver Broncos.

“It’s my favorite rule in football,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said after the victory, grinning ear to ear. “Just trying to get one of those in every game.”

Chargers punt returner Derius Davis was contacted on the previous play, drawing a fair catch interference flag for 15 yards with no time left in the half. Per NFL rules, the Chargers then had the choice to go for a free-kick field goal or an untimed snap from scrimmage. They chose the former and Dicker delivered.

“Cam Dicker stepped up and nailed it,” Harbaugh said. “Got the momentum back.”