What is a fair-catch kick? Chargers' Cameron Dicker converts first since 1976

The Los Angeles Chargers just did something that hasn't been done in an NFL game since 1976: successfully executed a fair catch kick. But what is a fair-catch kick?

According to the NFL rules, if a player makes a fair catch, his team may attempt a kick from the spot rather than begin its next possession. If the kick goes through the goalposts on the scoring end of the field, it's worth three points — as many as a field goal.

On a fair-catch kick, the ball does not have to be snapped, and the kicker can have a bigger running start before kicking the ball. Essentially, it's just like a kickoff attempt but with a holder instead of a tee.

Dicker attempted the 57-yard fair-catch kick after the Denver Broncos' punt coverage team was flagged for fair catch interference at the end of the first half of Thursday night's game. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh elected to attempt the kick on an untimed down since the Broncos would not be allowed to return it on a potential miss.

Fair-catch free kick rule

Here's the exact wording of the NFL's rule on fair catches, from Rule 10, Section 2, Article 4:

"After a fair catch is made or is awarded as the result of fair catch interference, the receiving team has the option of putting the ball in play by a snap or fair catch kick (drop kick or place kick without a tee) from the spot of the catch or succeeding spot after enforcement of any applicable penalties (3-9 and 11-4-3). This includes the 15-yard penalty enforced from the receiving team’s 20-yard line as applicable if the fair catch is made or awarded in his end zone from fair catch interference or illegal contact with the receiver after he has made a fair catch."

Also according to the rulebook, the fair-catch kick is technically distinct from a free kick. The NFL only considers kickoffs, safety kicks or onside kicks to be free kicks and specifically states that a fair-catch kick "is not a free kick."

There's also this from Rule 10, Section 2, Article 5:

"If time expires during a play in which a player has signaled for a fair catch, the following shall apply:

...If the kicking team interferes with a receiver who has signaled for a fair catch, the receiving team will have the option to extend the period by attempting a fair catch kick or by a snap from scrimmage after enforcement of any applicable penalties."

Fair-catch kick history

Dicker's kick was the first fair-catch kick attempted since Joey Slye did it with the Carolina Panthers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019.

It was the first to score points since 1976, when Ray Wersching of the then-San Diego Chargers knocked one through from 45 yards out at the end of the first half against the Buffalo Bills.

At 65 yards, Dicker's fair-catch kick was the longest successful attempt in NFL history.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fair-catch kick explained: Chargers convert first since 1976