I found it funny how Perna was like "They get a free kick?! Is this a new rule?!" when HE was the one who brought this rule to my attention in an older video of his 😂
@@evilratinc that's your belief. The Broncos were on the wheel and it didn't land there. They played like horse crap in the 2nd half because the Chargers changed their tactics and play-calling. Not only do the donkeys have to contend with the Chiefs, but they're up against Harbaugh. The AFC West is hell.
My condolences that you stored memories of the Chargers from that long ago. I hope the times between that kick and this one have been a bit more rewarding than the Chargers postseason aspirations.
@@mars7304 Not a Chargers fan. An east coaster, I lived and died as a 10-year old on the arm of Joe Namath. But overall, I was a football fanatic, watching games whenever they were on TV, as well as playing a myriad of Football-themed board games.
Happened before I was born. I don't get to say that often anymore, but I was born a year later, in the year the greatest defense by points allowed in the Super Bowl era went 7-7 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers put up the worst passing offense since John Heisman's heyday.
He didn't really go into detail. The two big things is that 1. It is an uncontested kick so they can take their time, it will be a perfect hold, and they can run up into like a kickoff and get a bit of extra distance 2. they kick from the line of scrimage. Making a 64 yard attempt a 57 yard attempt
Yeah, I think the biggest thing is no rush. Regular field goal the ball is snapped and the kicker has to hurry up and kick it. But with the fair-catch kick, take a deep breath, start the longer than usual approach . . . he could have done a little dance and run around in a few circles first and then gotten around to running up to kick the ball. And if he felt his step was off, just stop, back up and try again--just so the play clock doesn't hit zero, that's all. Very low pressure compared to any other type of scoring attempt. I could have made an attempt like that, but a regular field goal attempt? Heck no, those defense guys could kill me! But this play, sure, there would be no pressure in trying. Either I make it or no harm done. "Hey coach, send me in--I've got this!" (As I use a foot to snub out my cigarette on the ground and start putting on my helmet.) Of course my kick would come up short or wide, or both, but that's not the point: The point is that this is ONLY play in the NFL wherein I could actually attempt to score, without putting my health and life into some really serious danger! Either I make it and I just scored in the NFL, or no harm done. Take my time, no defense coming at me, easy-peasy, "Send me in coach! Come on, I've got this!" Put me on the roster--I'll be any NFL team's designated fair-catch kicker. Any other play, any other attempt to score in the NFL, forget it--I'm not into those broken bone and TBI things.
I applaud your grit and pushing through to drop this video after that loss. Dan Campbell is holding tryouts for defense for people with the grit you exude.
That was the 2nd time Jim Harbaugh has had a fair catch free kick as a NFL coach. He did it about a decade ago as well when he was the 49ers head coach. They didn't make the kick, but everyone was shocked about that call. Was fun to see it again. A very rare play, and especially rare to make it. Happy I was able to see a 2nd one of those in a live game.
I'm not a Chargers fan but I was so frustrated for years when I watched their games "they have good players, they are near a playoff spot, they're gonna blow it in embarrassing fashion!". And now it feels weird that they are pulling off those wins.
Na, as rough as the Staley years were for the bolts the broncos still managed to squander games like this. One game that comes to mind was a couple years ago in OT when the bolts punted the ball to the broncos and it was fumbled during the catch when a bronco was blocking bolt (and caused his own teammate to fumble). Gift wrapped the win for the ⚡️😎
He showed the rule on screen, but I think he misinterpreted it. The rule he shows does mention "if time expires" but that's to specify that the half will be extended by one untimed down. You're right, though. Any fair catch could be followed up with a fair catch kick.
Yea. The time expiring was merely because it expired on a defensive penalty, which means the offense gets an untimed down. So it's a rare circumstance combined with another very rare circumstance which sets up this interesting scenario in this case. But again, you are 100% correct in that time did not need to have expired for the kick to be attempted.
I think he means that you would only do this if time is expired. If the offense had that field position with any time left, obviously they would go for the TD.
Exactly, time has nothing to do with it. However if you miss, the other team can return it and gets to keep the ball. the only time this would happen is at the end of the half or end of the 4th.
This guy should have his videos banned from UA-cam for spreading false lies about the rule. Just irresponsible responsible on his part. Should be removed from UA-cam, actually should have Trump's new DOJ go after this guy.
If you breathe on the returner signaling a fair catch, it's FCI. Like, there's no way that *couldn't* get called. Making contact on a non-contact rule is definitely no bueno :)
For anyone interested, the fair catch kick comes from the ancestor of Gridiron football, Rugby football. It originated as the 'Goal from the mark'. Rugby (which split into two, Union and League) has since taken the rule off the books, League in 1922 and Union in 1977. Most scoring systems in both codes of Gridiron football, Canadian and American, have their origins in Rugby. The Try became the Touchdown The Conversion became the 1 point Conversion (No 2 point equivalent in Rugby) The Drop Goal and abolished Field Goal became the Field Goal (With Drop Goal attempts still allowed in the NFL) The Goal from the Mark became the Fair Catch Free Kick The Penalty has no Gridiron equivalent, but is similar to the FCFK in execution (unimpeded attempt) The 2 Point Conversion, Safety and the CFLs Rouge are unique to Gridiron.
I know this is pedantic, but it's worth noting that Gridiron codes don't actually descend from Rugby codes. It's more like both Rugby and Gridiron codes share a common ancestor that is no longer played. Both descend from various carrying-football codes played in industrial-period England, but would differ significantly from both codes of Rugby today. The codes are more like cousins than a mother-daughter relationship
History repeats itself. Chargers previous fair catch kick was Nov 21, 1976. Both times 1) It was the last play of the second quarter, 2) Chargers scored 34 points, and 3) Chargers won.
I was there in person tonight and saw this with mine own two eyes, Perna. I will say that it was just as batshit insane in person then I’m sure the broadcast showed. I even got the whole thing on video.
This happened in 1984 at the former Hoosier Dome at end of first half in game between Patriots and Colts. Colts fair caught a punt on their own 49 yard line. Colts tired a 61 yard FG with the free kick but Colts kicker Raul Allegre did not get all of the kick and fell several yards short.
As a longtime high school and college football official, I was aware of this rule. Only the National Federation (high school) rules and the NFL have this option. The NCAA has no provision for a free kick after a fair catch. The only other time that I remember seeing this was a Detroit Lions Thanksgiving game in old Tiger Stadium. It must have been against the Packers as I see Paul Horning successfully tried a free kick. Thank you for covering this.
Thanks for this. I got up this morning to watch highlights of the game (which started at something like 1:30 am in my time zone) and thought ... WTF? Always more to learn.
That's awesome. Wish i had seen it live but it's still cool to be able to see it period. I was 4 years old the last time one of these worked...damn I'm getting old.
The 1 pt safety that could be awarded after a (catastrophically) failed extra point attempt it is technically the rarest play of all, since it's possible, but has never happened.
@@thereturners7564 I'm not sure about the NFL, but a 1 point safety DID happen in the Fiesta Bowl a few years back (2013?) when my Ducks were playing K State. The Ducks had a PAT blocked, the ball was picked up by a K State defender, carried back into the end zone, lateraled to a K State teammate who was tackled in the end zone. Ducks got a point the hard way after their TD 😅
@@Rilianawakened321 Yeah, I was only referring to it strictly in the context of the NFL. I think it's happened at least a couple times or so in college though, for sure.
I won't say with 100% certainty but I believe this situation has happened to me playing some old Madden when I was a kid. I remember thinking the game was bugged.
Thanks for the explanation. When I initially read the headline that they got their first my head almost exploded because none of my previous 50 years of football experience allowed the phrase "fair catch kick" to make any sense.
You forgot to mention that the kicker has another advantage: no snap. His holder gets to place the ball the way the kicker likes. No risk of a bad snap or bad hold.
Thank you for explaining it! I had to get to bed before it happened (hooray E.S.T. football schedule) and only saw it this morning, I was so confused haha
The rarest play in the NFL hasn't happened yet, and it's a 1 point score (not an extra point). It's basically some old school ruling from the days there was a fence at the back of the endzone. If I remember correctly, on a kickoff, the receiving team has to run it almost all the way in, fumble, the kicking team has to then recover it in their own endzone, and run it all the way back across the field to their endzone. Result of the play is a 1 point run, and the rarest play possible in the NFL.
A safety scored on an extra point attempt is also a one-pointer. I know of two times this has happened in a college game, but I don't think it's happened in the NFL.
@@bl3313 First time I heard about it. Can you explain a little bit more? I am confused as how can the defense team get a safety on an extra point after a touchdown. I am just trying to make a sense out of it.
@@lykaojalao2733 Both times it was actually the offense. The defense intercepted a 2-point conversion pass attempt, ran out of the endzone, fumbled back into endzone and recovered the fumble but were tackled there. Something like that.
There's ONE rarer play that we've never seen in the NFL. The 1-point safety on an extra-point attempt. It's happened in college football at least twice, but has never happened in the NFL.
@@derleumedia Kicking team got the point. On both occasions, the kick was blocked and picked up by the defense. They then retreated into their own end zone and got tackled by the kicking team.
@@derleumedia Both times it went down like this: PAT attempt is blocked, blocking team picks up the ball in the field of play looking to return it. But the returner ends up going backwards and gets tackled in the endzone. Kicking team gets 1 point, just as if the PAT were successful. In theory it's possible for a 1 point safety to go to the non-kicking team. For instance, if the snap goes over the kicker's head and the wind and bounces carry it 100+ yards out of the back of the far endzone. To my knowledge, this has never happened at any level of football.
I was in Giants Stadium when Mark Mosley missed one in the 80s. The Skins were down nine when they took a fair catch at the NYG 45 with about 58 seconds left. Needing two scores they took an untimed free kick but missed it.
Jim Harbaugh was on the sidelines of SB47 when I first heard of the fair catch free kick rule. Someone in the booth mentions it at the end of the game after the safety if I recall correctly.
This wasn't caused by the Broncos fair catch penalty. They would never even have had time to punt if Harbaugh didn't call timeout, anticipating the possibility of a penalty
Correct. I am always amazed coaches don't use every single time out. You just never know what might happen - fumbled snap, penalty, butt fumble, drone attack, time space rift, wardrobe malfunction, Leon Lett, etc. I realized its poor sportsmanship but I would even call a time out on the very last play because there is always a chance of some crazy thing happening. No matter how rare there is always a chance.
@@johnmoore3504 ROFL . . . love your colorful explanation. Totally agree with you though . . . kudos to Harbaugh for calling the timeout, and then: "let's see what shit happens!"
You mention it slightly, but being able to place the ball exactly on the line of scrimmage vs snapping it and kicking it 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage makes a huge difference in the ability to make this kick. That along with no pressure, a longer run up, and more time makes this a lot easier for kickers
I saw this a few years ago in Lambeau when the packers were playing the lions. Packers fair caught the ball before the half and Mason Crosby attempted a 69 yard free kick. He missed wide left, but the play happened.
Thanks for the history lesson. I appreciate this post. 😊For giggles , a 1930 announcer commented about football , Twenty Sweeds went through the weeds chasing two Itialians.
I watched a game where the Cowboys had a perfect opportunity for a fair catch kick. End of half, crappy punt, and their coach completely forgot about the rule and squandered the chance.
This is literally how I felt when the Ravens and Justin Tucker scored an NFL record field goal to keep us from getting our first win the year we started like 0-10, we couldve had a win fairly early on but no history has to be made against our team lol
Its funny because clearly Harbaugh loves the idea of a free kick. I remember first seeing this when Harbaugh attempted it at the end of a half back when he coached the 49ers
Interesting side information: since 1971 fair catch kicks occurred typically once every 3-8 years with even rarer occurrences in back to back years; however, from a kick in an NFC playoff game in January 1989 it would take more than 16 years (nearly 17) for the next fair catch kick in October 2005. The fair catch kick stems from Gridiron Football's origins in Rugby Football, the rule being: a "goal from mark" which also has parallels in Australian Rules Football where is it called a "mark."
I remember the Steelers lost to the Browns 10-9 in 1982. The Browns had just given a safety to the Steelers with seconds left in the game. The announcer said the Steelers should call a fair catch on the kickoff and try a free kick, but Coach Knoll didn't for some reason.
Wersching went on to be a clutch kicker for the 49ers. He was known for never looking up at the goalposts from the moment he stepped onto the field of play, lining up his kick using the hash marks and with the help of his holder.
I've been looking for a video of the 50 plus yard field goal made by Houston Oilers back in 1961 (might have been on film back then) by George Blanda. The goal posts were closer back then so that would have from the 50 yard line. And Blanda was a straight on (tie those cleats back) kicker. Before the days of the soccer style kickers of today
I found it funny how Perna was like "They get a free kick?! Is this a new rule?!" when HE was the one who brought this rule to my attention in an older video of his 😂
I think he said “I hate this rule” right b4 Dicker drained it 🤣
Shows how rare the rule is. So rare, it's easy to forget it exists.
I was listening on the radio, at least those announcers had a clue.
There’s no canon in the Pernaverse.
What is unusual about this? Teams can kick the ball at any time they want as long as they have possession
I laughed so hard at “Dicker blasted it through the gooch with ease” 😂😂😂
I don’t even know why I’m watching this video. I hate pretty much all professional team sports. But that made me laugh.
Yeah I might have to incorporate "blasted it through the gooch" into my vocabuIary more often now xD
The curse wheel getting stuck ended up cursing the broncos
Perna obviously never watched The Price is Right or Wheel of Fortune. It cursed the Bills, or whoever wasn't the Chiefs.
Or maybe they'll both be cursed
It got stuck between the Chiefs/Ravens so no
@RogueNation. Being stuck broke it and it turned on the owner. You can't cheat the devil chiefs.
@@evilratinc that's your belief. The Broncos were on the wheel and it didn't land there. They played like horse crap in the 2nd half because the Chargers changed their tactics and play-calling. Not only do the donkeys have to contend with the Chiefs, but they're up against Harbaugh. The AFC West is hell.
I remember that Ray Wersching kick. Downside, I'm old, upside, I can still remember crap like that.
😂👊🏼
My condolences that you stored memories of the Chargers from that long ago. I hope the times between that kick and this one have been a bit more rewarding than the Chargers postseason aspirations.
@@mars7304 Not a Chargers fan. An east coaster, I lived and died as a 10-year old on the arm of Joe Namath. But overall, I was a football fanatic, watching games whenever they were on TV, as well as playing a myriad of Football-themed board games.
Ray Wersching… Super Bowl champion
Happened before I was born. I don't get to say that often anymore, but I was born a year later, in the year the greatest defense by points allowed in the Super Bowl era went 7-7 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers put up the worst passing offense since John Heisman's heyday.
He didn't really go into detail. The two big things is that 1. It is an uncontested kick so they can take their time, it will be a perfect hold, and they can run up into like a kickoff and get a bit of extra distance
2. they kick from the line of scrimage. Making a 64 yard attempt a 57 yard attempt
Thanks sexzy
he mentioned the first point, but didnt clarify the 2nd, but the 2nd goes without saying i would think
@@boomznbladez405not when you’re slow like me 😉 I didn’t even think of it lol
Yeah, I think the biggest thing is no rush. Regular field goal the ball is snapped and the kicker has to hurry up and kick it. But with the fair-catch kick, take a deep breath, start the longer than usual approach . . . he could have done a little dance and run around in a few circles first and then gotten around to running up to kick the ball. And if he felt his step was off, just stop, back up and try again--just so the play clock doesn't hit zero, that's all. Very low pressure compared to any other type of scoring attempt.
I could have made an attempt like that, but a regular field goal attempt? Heck no, those defense guys could kill me! But this play, sure, there would be no pressure in trying. Either I make it or no harm done. "Hey coach, send me in--I've got this!" (As I use a foot to snub out my cigarette on the ground and start putting on my helmet.)
Of course my kick would come up short or wide, or both, but that's not the point: The point is that this is ONLY play in the NFL wherein I could actually attempt to score, without putting my health and life into some really serious danger! Either I make it and I just scored in the NFL, or no harm done. Take my time, no defense coming at me, easy-peasy, "Send me in coach! Come on, I've got this!"
Put me on the roster--I'll be any NFL team's designated fair-catch kicker. Any other play, any other attempt to score in the NFL, forget it--I'm not into those broken bone and TBI things.
@@TheInvisibleCar Imagine if the kicker puts on theatrics to mess with the other team's mind, and then Panenkas the kick. 🤣
I applaud your grit and pushing through to drop this video after that loss. Dan Campbell is holding tryouts for defense for people with the grit you exude.
We're getting perilously close to letting perna walk on at this point
Grit? Lmao dude just wants money regardless of the content.
@@Nasty_JaxNo shit he’s a UA-camr and needs to feed his family lmao
@Nasty_Jax lmao everyone "just wants money." I hate this argument so much. Everyone is in their job for the money.
@chaboii 😂
That was the 2nd time Jim Harbaugh has had a fair catch free kick as a NFL coach. He did it about a decade ago as well when he was the 49ers head coach. They didn't make the kick, but everyone was shocked about that call. Was fun to see it again. A very rare play, and especially rare to make it. Happy I was able to see a 2nd one of those in a live game.
Yep but that was from 71 yards
Lol go penalties 😂
Thanks I thought I remember that happening
Dude's knee flexed in a very sideways direction when he was contacted. Glad he seems okay.
He later went on to catch a TD
Yup. Knee on knee. Coulda been worse
If Staley still coached the Chargers, Denver would have returned that free kick for a touchdown
Or Denver scores their own free kick, and it WAS the score that cost them the game, and it made the Chargers lose a playoff spot in the final week.
I'm not a Chargers fan but I was so frustrated for years when I watched their games "they have good players, they are near a playoff spot, they're gonna blow it in embarrassing fashion!". And now it feels weird that they are pulling off those wins.
I was so expecting them to start ‘chargering’
Na, as rough as the Staley years were for the bolts the broncos still managed to squander games like this. One game that comes to mind was a couple years ago in OT when the bolts punted the ball to the broncos and it was fumbled during the catch when a bronco was blocking bolt (and caused his own teammate to fumble). Gift wrapped the win for the ⚡️😎
You don’t say that name
The ritual has been performed. Chargering has temporarily been transferred to a new host.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Yeah, the Bears. Surprised they haven't lost a game on a fair catch kick yet lol
@@stephencarroll4681 SHUT UP, you've put it into the Universal Aether.
@@stephencarroll4681 The opposite has happened. They won a game on a fair catch kick in 1968.
Chargering died when Jim took the job. New host found for sure 😂🐼
0:45 There's no "if time expires" to that rule, it's just after every call for a fair catch you have that option.
He showed the rule on screen, but I think he misinterpreted it. The rule he shows does mention "if time expires" but that's to specify that the half will be extended by one untimed down. You're right, though. Any fair catch could be followed up with a fair catch kick.
Yea. The time expiring was merely because it expired on a defensive penalty, which means the offense gets an untimed down. So it's a rare circumstance combined with another very rare circumstance which sets up this interesting scenario in this case.
But again, you are 100% correct in that time did not need to have expired for the kick to be attempted.
I think he means that you would only do this if time is expired. If the offense had that field position with any time left, obviously they would go for the TD.
Exactly, time has nothing to do with it. However if you miss, the other team can return it and gets to keep the ball. the only time this would happen is at the end of the half or end of the 4th.
This guy should have his videos banned from UA-cam for spreading false lies about the rule. Just irresponsible responsible on his part. Should be removed from UA-cam, actually should have Trump's new DOJ go after this guy.
As someone who returned kicks all through High School and College - that contact was more than enough to call interference...
If you breathe on the returner signaling a fair catch, it's FCI. Like, there's no way that *couldn't* get called. Making contact on a non-contact rule is definitely no bueno :)
I was sincerely stunned when this happened. Never seen anything like it and probably never will at this rate.
For anyone interested, the fair catch kick comes from the ancestor of Gridiron football, Rugby football. It originated as the 'Goal from the mark'. Rugby (which split into two, Union and League) has since taken the rule off the books, League in 1922 and Union in 1977.
Most scoring systems in both codes of Gridiron football, Canadian and American, have their origins in Rugby.
The Try became the Touchdown
The Conversion became the 1 point Conversion (No 2 point equivalent in Rugby)
The Drop Goal and abolished Field Goal became the Field Goal (With Drop Goal attempts still allowed in the NFL)
The Goal from the Mark became the Fair Catch Free Kick
The Penalty has no Gridiron equivalent, but is similar to the FCFK in execution (unimpeded attempt)
The 2 Point Conversion, Safety and the CFLs Rouge are unique to Gridiron.
Thanks for the information.
Rouge or Rogue?
@@Bassman-mp8lh Rouge
I know this is pedantic, but it's worth noting that Gridiron codes don't actually descend from Rugby codes. It's more like both Rugby and Gridiron codes share a common ancestor that is no longer played. Both descend from various carrying-football codes played in industrial-period England, but would differ significantly from both codes of Rugby today. The codes are more like cousins than a mother-daughter relationship
Australian Rules Football still has the free kick
I remember it from the early days of ESPN and it’s still a thing
History repeats itself. Chargers previous fair catch kick was Nov 21, 1976. Both times 1) It was the last play of the second quarter, 2) Chargers scored 34 points, and 3) Chargers won.
If I had nickel for every time...
@@Yune98K You would have a dime....lol
@Yune98K you'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but kind of weird it happened twice.
@@loidz4515it’s implied, but you know that
Totally disagree with your last statement. It doesn't suck. The fact that a Charger kicker gets to repeat this rare event is totally awesome.
?? "Unless you're part of the losing team... Then it sucks."
Missed opportunity to title this “New Worst Play Ever”
Or “New Worst Rule Ever”
Nah this is the best play ever
@@corrupt2361 best*
@@corrupt2361 Exactly!
@@corrupt2361 cuz y'all team lost??
And this is why you punt the ball out of bounds.
100%
if the kicking team did not touch the punter, the half would have been over
@@cyclopsvision6370 Nope. They still would have the same option, but 15 yards further out.
@@RoyalMelayeah fair enough but the Chargers would probably have declined the fair catch kick because it was too far out of range
@@64cgfanjust read an article- there was some attempts from 70+ but all missed
That’s really good coaching to notice this situation presented itself and then taking advantage of it.
Every special teams coach and player has this drilled into them.
Every coach dreams of calling for this and Harbaugh got to live it out
Twice, if I recall right.
Took him like 5 minutes to figure it out but ya
Madden often lamented that he always wanted to call for one but never got the stars to align.
@@shadearion Yeah, Phil Dawson attempted (and missed) in 2013 when Harbaugh was coaching the 49ers.
I was thinking the refs would have the same feeling haha.
I was there in person tonight and saw this with mine own two eyes, Perna. I will say that it was just as batshit insane in person then I’m sure the broadcast showed. I even got the whole thing on video.
Halftime Perna : "Watch them win by 3"
Denver's Defense "And I took that Personally"
34-27
I still liked the Chargers better when they were in San Diego.
The Chargers originated in LA in 1960, same year as the Raiders and Patriots.
I definitely like the darker blue more.
Same here.
@dylanrunner2001 OP didn't say anything about where they originated, though.
We don't care where they originated, we liked them better in San Diego.
Sean Payton's comment about practicing this was priceless! Too funny.! Historic situation, glad I had the tube on to watch it happening in real time.
Sorry Perna rare situations caused by dumb rules is an essential part of this sport (which is the best on earth) and should never change
He would've felt different if it was the Broncos
Thanks for showing this!! Even though I was watching football since the 1960s, for whatever reason I didn't even know this was a rule.
How old is bro 😭
Now, Perna knows the rules... and knowing is half the battle.
The other half of the battle: Kicking Cobra ass! Hooyah! Go Joe! 🇺🇸
This happened in 1984 at the former Hoosier Dome at end of first half in game between Patriots and Colts. Colts fair caught a punt on their own 49 yard line. Colts tired a 61 yard FG with the free kick but Colts kicker Raul Allegre did not get all of the kick and fell several yards short.
As a longtime high school and college football official, I was aware of this rule. Only the National Federation (high school) rules and the NFL have this option. The NCAA has no provision for a free kick after a fair catch.
The only other time that I remember seeing this was a Detroit Lions Thanksgiving game in old Tiger Stadium. It must have been against the Packers as I see Paul Horning successfully tried a free kick.
Thank you for covering this.
Thank you so much for this extremely clear explanation!
Thanks for this. I got up this morning to watch highlights of the game (which started at something like 1:30 am in my time zone) and thought ... WTF?
Always more to learn.
I love these short format "perna bites" after the games. Keep it up
I seem to remember Mason Crosby attempting one of these kicks at some point.
The broncos went full Charger tonight, never go full Charger
That's awesome. Wish i had seen it live but it's still cool to be able to see it period. I was 4 years old the last time one of these worked...damn I'm getting old.
It was pretty cool. It was like 5 minutes before the chargers figured out what they wanted to do.
I would argue the drop kick field goal is rarer but this is still cool.
Probably rarer now, but for all of football history it was somewhat common pre WW2.
What about the 1 point Safety / Conversion (PAT) Safety? That one is very rare also.
The 1 pt safety that could be awarded after a (catastrophically) failed extra point attempt it is technically the rarest play of all, since it's possible, but has never happened.
@@thereturners7564 I'm not sure about the NFL, but a 1 point safety DID happen in the Fiesta Bowl a few years back (2013?) when my Ducks were playing K State. The Ducks had a PAT blocked, the ball was picked up by a K State defender, carried back into the end zone, lateraled to a K State teammate who was tackled in the end zone. Ducks got a point the hard way after their TD 😅
@@Rilianawakened321 Yeah, I was only referring to it strictly in the context of the NFL. I think it's happened at least a couple times or so in college though, for sure.
I won't say with 100% certainty but I believe this situation has happened to me playing some old Madden when I was a kid. I remember thinking the game was bugged.
Thanks for the explanation. When I initially read the headline that they got their first my head almost exploded because none of my previous 50 years of football experience allowed the phrase "fair catch kick" to make any sense.
This is the second time Harbaugh has made this call. Phil Dawson attempted (and missed) a fair catch kick for the 49ers in 2013.
Last time this happened, _Star Wars_ wasn't a thing yet.
Good catch! That all started in '77!
Thanks for reporting and explaining this!
You forgot to mention that the kicker has another advantage: no snap. His holder gets to place the ball the way the kicker likes. No risk of a bad snap or bad hold.
So if you’re Marino and you are the holder, then you better remember “Laces Out!”
Thank you for explaining it! I had to get to bed before it happened (hooray E.S.T. football schedule) and only saw it this morning, I was so confused haha
Very informative and entertaining. Thank you very much.
Thanks for explaining that! I wasn’t quite sure what distinguished it from just a last second field goal or drop-kick.
The rarest play in the NFL hasn't happened yet, and it's a 1 point score (not an extra point).
It's basically some old school ruling from the days there was a fence at the back of the endzone. If I remember correctly, on a kickoff, the receiving team has to run it almost all the way in, fumble, the kicking team has to then recover it in their own endzone, and run it all the way back across the field to their endzone. Result of the play is a 1 point run, and the rarest play possible in the NFL.
Yup!
A safety scored on an extra point attempt is also a one-pointer. I know of two times this has happened in a college game, but I don't think it's happened in the NFL.
It hasn't you're right only in college that I know of@@bl3313
@@bl3313
First time I heard about it.
Can you explain a little bit more?
I am confused as how can the defense team get a safety on an extra point after a touchdown.
I am just trying to make a sense out of it.
@@lykaojalao2733 Both times it was actually the offense. The defense intercepted a 2-point conversion pass attempt, ran out of the endzone, fumbled back into endzone and recovered the fumble but were tackled there. Something like that.
There's ONE rarer play that we've never seen in the NFL. The 1-point safety on an extra-point attempt. It's happened in college football at least twice, but has never happened in the NFL.
Good one! But how did it happen in CFB? Did the QB scramble back 98 yards?
@@derleumedia Kicking team got the point. On both occasions, the kick was blocked and picked up by the defense. They then retreated into their own end zone and got tackled by the kicking team.
@@fortmax05 nice!
@@derleumedia Both times it went down like this: PAT attempt is blocked, blocking team picks up the ball in the field of play looking to return it. But the returner ends up going backwards and gets tackled in the endzone. Kicking team gets 1 point, just as if the PAT were successful.
In theory it's possible for a 1 point safety to go to the non-kicking team. For instance, if the snap goes over the kicker's head and the wind and bounces carry it 100+ yards out of the back of the far endzone. To my knowledge, this has never happened at any level of football.
This is why teams just chuck the ball as far as they can instead of punting when time is about to expire
ty for explaini the full aspects. I was seeing highlight clips that simply looked like a long FG
Perna out here experiencing football nightmares nobody's seen in 50 years.
The rarest play in the NFL is the one point safety. It’s so rare it hasn’t happened yet (it has happened in the NCAA though.)
Most people associate Ray Wersching with the 49ers. He was with the Chargers until they brought in Rolf Benirschke.
Jeez, the Chargers' kickers from those days sound like a Bundesliga squad more so than an NFL roster.
I was in Giants Stadium when Mark Mosley missed one in the 80s. The Skins were down nine when they took a fair catch at the NYG 45 with about 58 seconds left. Needing two scores they took an untimed free kick but missed it.
Perna is the only person i trust to explain this in a way I won’t understand
Should get an interview with Ray Wersching. He's still alive
nfl getting us to know this rule so when the chiefs do it in the superbowl we know about it
I’m over the chiefs. Kind of doubt they make the Super Bowl this year with all the good teams in the AFC. But somehow they seem to find a way.
If I had the urge to whine about stuff I imagined, I would simply stop imagining it.
@@meepk633 ain't no imagining it's all the truf
A few of these have been attempted in the last few years. Now that kickers often have realistic 60+ yard range, I expect we'll see them more often.
Every kickers dream fr. Right up there with attempting a drop kick
Jim Harbaugh was on the sidelines of SB47 when I first heard of the fair catch free kick rule. Someone in the booth mentions it at the end of the game after the safety if I recall correctly.
Impressive Perna made a video about the free kick in the middle of his agony
I remember FPV making a video about this and saying it probably won’t happen for a while. Today is the DAY!
Thanks for all you do Perna from this lions fan.
This wasn't caused by the Broncos fair catch penalty. They would never even have had time to punt if Harbaugh didn't call timeout, anticipating the possibility of a penalty
Correct. I am always amazed coaches don't use every single time out. You just never know what might happen - fumbled snap, penalty, butt fumble, drone attack, time space rift, wardrobe malfunction, Leon Lett, etc. I realized its poor sportsmanship but I would even call a time out on the very last play because there is always a chance of some crazy thing happening. No matter how rare there is always a chance.
@@johnmoore3504 ROFL . . . love your colorful explanation. Totally agree with you though . . . kudos to Harbaugh for calling the timeout, and then: "let's see what shit happens!"
True, however; what might happen different because of TO called, applies to both teams. Could be good, could be bad.
You mention it slightly, but being able to place the ball exactly on the line of scrimmage vs snapping it and kicking it 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage makes a huge difference in the ability to make this kick. That along with no pressure, a longer run up, and more time makes this a lot easier for kickers
A UA-cam video where the strange title matches the content making it a rare phenomena in UA-cam land. great video
I saw this a few years ago in Lambeau when the packers were playing the lions. Packers fair caught the ball before the half and Mason Crosby attempted a 69 yard free kick. He missed wide left, but the play happened.
Hilarious commentary! I'm dying over here.
I remember learning about this over the offseason totally randomly. Crazy stuff
Thanks for the history lesson. I appreciate this post. 😊For giggles , a 1930 announcer commented about football , Twenty Sweeds went through the weeds chasing two Itialians.
A thorough explanation- well done!
Thanks for the explanation 👍👍
2:26 just hurt my eyes just seeing them kick it then when the referees signaled for it to be good made my head burn
I watched a game where the Cowboys had a perfect opportunity for a fair catch kick. End of half, crappy punt, and their coach completely forgot about the rule and squandered the chance.
I love the leftover rugby stuff in the football ruleook. I'm surprised Belichick never tried this.
I thought Flutie's drop kick in 2006 was the rarest play in football? That hadn't happened since 1941 and may never happen again after Flutie's kick.
This is literally how I felt when the Ravens and Justin Tucker scored an NFL record field goal to keep us from getting our first win the year we started like 0-10, we couldve had a win fairly early on but no history has to be made against our team lol
Its funny because clearly Harbaugh loves the idea of a free kick. I remember first seeing this when Harbaugh attempted it at the end of a half back when he coached the 49ers
Considering the situations with Field goal attempts and Punting keep getting crazier and crazier each week. I'm now scared of what'll happen next.
As much as I dog on refs for making terrible calls all the time… props to these guys for remembering this rule existed 🤣😂
five stars. brilliant piece of content. srsly. i break furniture after my team loses. you make gold 🎉
In my 58 years of watching football, pro and college, that was the first time I ever saw one of those successfully converted
I'm 66 and had never seen one before . . . pretty cool moment.
Thumbs up! You made me laugh out loud! Cheers!
its hard being a chargers fan.. i was worried we would charger it until the clock hit zero
Great video Brosephus!
Interesting side information: since 1971 fair catch kicks occurred typically once every 3-8 years with even rarer occurrences in back to back years; however, from a kick in an NFC playoff game in January 1989 it would take more than 16 years (nearly 17) for the next fair catch kick in October 2005. The fair catch kick stems from Gridiron Football's origins in Rugby Football, the rule being: a "goal from mark" which also has parallels in Australian Rules Football where is it called a "mark."
I remember the Steelers lost to the Browns 10-9 in 1982. The Browns had just given a safety to the Steelers with seconds left in the game. The announcer said the Steelers should call a fair catch on the kickoff and try a free kick, but Coach Knoll didn't for some reason.
Really cool that I got to witness that last night. Bummed that Broncos lost. 🧡💙
Wersching went on to be a clutch kicker for the 49ers. He was known for never looking up at the goalposts from the moment he stepped onto the field of play, lining up his kick using the hash marks and with the help of his holder.
As a chargers fan, im looking forward to absorbing every second of thats good sports this week!
“Dicker the Kicker blasted it through the gooch with ease” 😂
"blasted it through the gooch with ease"😂😂😂😂
Amazing video. Well done
Thank you so much for this video! Now I have a great understanding of why my parlay was screwed
I've been looking for a video of the 50 plus yard field goal made by Houston Oilers back in 1961 (might have been on film back then) by George Blanda. The goal posts were closer back then so that would have from the 50 yard line. And Blanda was a straight on (tie those cleats back) kicker. Before the days of the soccer style kickers of today
0:09 sad part is, some idiots will say that’s historically accurate 😂
LMAO, so true!
Christ Perna! VISINE EXTRA!!!😂
Literally as soon as I saw this happen live I knew we’d be getting a Perna video on the whole situation
My parents weren’t even alive last time it happened 😭
I've only ever seen this once, and it was at my high school. He missed it, but if I remember correctly, it was because it was wide, not short.
I saw when the Giants tried it a few years back, and failed spectacularly.