Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker accomplished a feat unseen in the NFL for nearly 50 years by scoring on a 57-yard fair-catch kick during the Chargers’ thrilling 34-27 comeback victory over the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. The play marked the first successful attempt of its kind since Ray Wersching converted one for the San Diego Chargers in 1976.

The unusual play occurred in the final moments of the first half. Denver’s Tremon Smith was flagged for fair-catch interference after Chargers punt returner Derius Davis signaled for a fair catch but was illegally touched. The 15-yard penalty advanced Los Angeles to Denver’s 47-yard line, setting the stage for the rare fair-catch kick. As the clock hit zero, many fans believed halftime was imminent. Instead, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh seized the moment, calling for Dicker to attempt the kick.

In a fair-catch kick, the receiving team can attempt a field goal directly from the line of scrimmage without a snap or defensive rush. Dicker’s precise kick easily cleared the uprights, reducing Denver’s lead to 21-13 and shifting momentum to the Chargers.

Harbaugh, an avid student of the game’s quirks, expressed excitement about successfully executing the play. “It’s my favorite rule in football,” said Harbaugh, who previously attempted the maneuver in 2013 while coaching the San Francisco 49ers. That earlier attempt, a 71-yard effort by Phil Dawson, was unsuccessful.

Ray Wersching, the last player to score on a fair-catch kick, fondly recalled his own experience in 1976 against the Buffalo Bills. He admitted he wasn’t even aware of the rule at the time but followed his coach’s direction. Watching Dicker repeat the feat decades later, Wersching said, “It was a good long time to hold the record, but I’m glad to see it happen again.”