Video: Chargers' Rare Free-Kick FG vs. Broncos Excites Fans with Little-Used NFL Rule

Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made the first fair catch free kick since 1976 after he nailed a 57-yarder to end the first half against the Denver Broncos on Thursday evening.

To set the scene, the Denver Broncos' Riley Dixon unleashed a 46-yard punt with eight seconds left that landed in returner Derius Davis' hands. However, Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith committed fair catch interference for a 15-yard penalty, putting the ball at the Denver 47-yard line.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken then took advantage of a little-used rule that allows teams to attempt a place kick or drop kick from the spot of the catch.

With the benefit of the 15-yard penalty, Dicker would then attempt a 57-yard field goal to make it a one-possession game.

Dicker nailed the kick, becoming the first player since another Charger, Ray Wersching, got the job done from 45 yards out against the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 21, 1976.

Only seven players have ever successfully made the kick, with the legendary Curly Lambeau first doing so for the Green Bay Packers in 1921.

Only two other kickers (the Cleveland Browns' Phil Dawson from 71 yards in 2013 and the Carolina Panthers' Joey Slye from 60 yards in 2019) had even attempted the fair catch free kick over the last 15 years.

Naturally, the fair catch free kick got people talking, simply because it's such an anomaly.

Credit, of course, also goes to Dicker for getting the job done, ending a 48-year cold streak. This is also another notch in his 2024 resume for fans to consider when voting for the Pro Bowl.

Dicker joins Lambeau, the New York Giants' Ken Strong (1933), the Packers' Paul Hornung (1964), the Minnesota Vikings' Fred Cox (1966), the Chicago Bears' Mac Percival (1968) and Wersching on the exclusive list.