Although this is a New York Jets site, sometimes something so rare happens around the NFL that it’s hard not to comment on it.
On Thursday night, the NFL world saw the first successful fair catch kick attempt since 1976. A large portion of NFL viewers (myself included!) had never even heard of the fair catch kick or known it was possible.
In the NFL Rulebook, Section 10, Article 4 states as follows:
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. 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.
Essentially, whenever a player has made a fair catch or fair catch interference has been called, a team can attempt a field goal from where the ball is spotted.
However, it is not a regular field goal with the offense and defense lined up for a field goal block. The ball is kicked from at the line of scrimmage, as opposed to seven yards behind as a usual field goal is. The opposing players must be lined up at least 10 yards past the line of scrimmage. The kicker can use a holder or drop-kick (drop the ball to the ground and then kick it off the bounce) but not a tee.
If the field goal is no good, the opposing team gets the ball from the line of scrimmage. They can also try to return the kick (just like on any missed field goal).
It should be noted that the NFL considers the fair catch kick distinct from a free kick, which you might be familiar with as the kick that happens after a safety.
The fair catch kick rule almost never goes into effect for two reasons:
- A fair catch rarely happens in a spot on the field where a field goal attempt is reasonable.
- If the fair catch is in that spot, the offense will almost always take the field and try to drive for a touchdown.
Therefore, the only real scenario where a fair catch kick will happen is in the waning seconds of the first half or the waning seconds of the second half when a team is down three points or fewer (or tied).
In Article 5, the rulebook adds that if the game clock goes down to zero, the receiving team can actually extend the period with a fair catch kick attempt, but they cannot attempt an offensive play. However, if the team was awarded a fair catch due to fair catch interference, the receiving team has the option to either run an offensive play or attempt the fair catch kick.
This was the exact scenario that occurred in the Chargers-Broncos game. With eight seconds left in the first half and the Broncos leading 21-10, Denver punted from their own 16-yard line. The punt sailed to the Chargers’ 38-yard line, where returner Derius Davis signaled for a fair catch. However, the Broncos’ Tremon Smith was called for fair catch interference, pushing the ball to Denver’s 47-yard line. There was no time left on the clock.
Initially, it appeared the Chargers were prepared to line up their offense to attempt a Hail Mary, perhaps believing the field goal attempt would be from 64 yards. However, someone from the Chargers’ sideline, either head coach Jim Harbaugh or special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken, was alert to the possibility of a fair catch kick. After the teams exchanged timeouts, Cameron Dicker lined up for a 57-yard field goal attempt.
This was made possible by the fact that a) the period extends when a fair catch kick is called, and b) the fair catch kick is made from the line of scrimmage rather than seven yards behind it.
Having already been 8-for-9 on kicks from 50+, Dicker naturally nailed the field goal, reducing the Chargers’ deficit to 21-13 at halftime.
The last successful fair catch kick was on November 21, 1976, ironically by another Chargers kicker, Ray Wersching.
The fair catch kick has its origins in rugby’s “goal from mark,” which has since been removed from the rugby codes. According to Quirky Research, “Mac Percival’s game-winning kick in 1968 sparked the NFL to re-evaluate the rule that offseason, but no change was made.” They cite John Madden as the most vocal proponent of the fair catch kick.
The NFL rulebook is endlessly quirky. A play that hasn’t been successful in the NFL in nearly 50 years is worth a look.
