The NFL is a league where the extraordinary often becomes routine—one-handed catches, last-second touchdowns, 50-yard bombs—but sometimes, something scarce happens that makes even seasoned fans pause and ask, Wait, what just happened? With massive implications for the CFB and High School Football. That’s precisely the scenario that unfolded during Thursday night’s game between the Chargers and the Broncos, which was never seen since 1976. What seemed like a straightforward first half suddenly turned into a football trivia masterclass, courtesy of the former Lake Travis high schooler and LA Chargers’ kicker, Cameron Dicker.

With eight seconds left in the half, Broncos punter Riley Dixon booted the ball away on fourth-and-12, seemingly ending Denver’s possession in the most unremarkable fashion. Chargers returner Derius Davis, standing on his 38-yard line, calmly signaled for a fair catch. So far, so normal. But then, a flag flew—fair-catch interference on the Broncos—and suddenly, things got weird. The ball was moved to Denver’s 47-yard line, setting the stage for one of football’s most obscure and fascinating plays: the ‘Fair Catch Free Kick’. What followed left fans and even some players scratching their heads, as the Chargers dusted off a rule so old that the last time it was used successfully, disco was still king.

The NFL describes the rule in detail, stating, “After a fair catch, the receiving team has the option to put the ball in play by a snap or a fair-catch kick… The clock starts when the ball is kicked. (No tee permitted).” Yet, it’s such an obscure play that even lifelong fans might not know it exists.

Here’s the gist of this unicorn of a play: When a team makes a fair catch, they have the option to attempt a free kick on the next play. Think of it like a field goal, but with a twist. The defense can’t contest it, the kicker must strike the ball off the ground with the help of a holder, and the attempt takes place under kickoff conditions. The result? Dicker got a shot at a 61-yard field goal to end the half. “He’s got the leg,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said during the halftime broadcast, acknowledging that there wasn’t much his team could do except watch. And watch they did, as the Texas’ Cameron Dicker drilled the kick, writing himself into the history books as the first player since 1976 to convert a fair-catch kick.

Of course, this maneuver comes with its risks. If Dicker had missed, Denver would have gained possession at the exact spot of the kick—essentially handing them a 61-yard gain for free. That’s why you rarely see this rule employed; the stakes are simply too high. But the Chargers had nothing to lose with the clock ticking to halftime. “We practice these moments,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said post-game. “You never know when it might win you a game—or give you a highlight like tonight.”

Where does the next drive start, high-risk, high-reward?

To add to the above event, the “Fair Catch Free Kick Rule.” This gem, tucked away in Rule 10, Section 2, Article 4 of the NFL Rulebook, is like a secret weapon most teams forget they even have. Here’s the breakdown: when a team makes a fair catch or is awarded one due to fair-catch interference, they have a choice. They can either snap the ball as usual or attempt a fair catch kick. And no, this isn’t your average field goal attempt. It’s a dropkick or placekick—no tee allowed—launched from the spot of the catch (or wherever penalties move it). It’s as rare as a solar eclipse, but when it happens, it’s pure football magic.

Now, here’s the kicker—literally. If the kick misses and is launched beyond the 20-yard line, the defense takes over at the exact spot of the attempt. Miss inside the 20, though, and the ball goes to the 20-yard line. This quirky piece of football history isn’t just a one-off; it has implications across all levels of play.