INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made the longest fair-catch free kick attempt ever recorded in NFL history when he made the 53-yard attempt to make the score 21-13 in favor of the Broncos on Thursday night scored at halftime. The previous length was 52 yards by Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers in 1962.

It appeared the Chargers would go into halftime trailing by 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.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh opted for a fair catch free kick, a rarely used strategy that allows teams to attempt a free kick – without the opponent trying to block it – right where a fair catch Catch was called for or a fair catch was awarded as a result of a penalty. Typically, teams signal fair catches well out of field goal range, so this strategy is not commonplace.

There have been 26 fairly caught free kicks recorded, with Carolina kicker Joey Slye’s most recent attempt being the smartest in a game against the Buccaneers in 2019. Slye missed the 60-yard attempt.

The last player to take a fairly caught free kick was Ray Wersching of the San Diego Chargers in 1976. Broncos coach Sean Payton said on the television broadcast that they are preparing for these scenarios.