Ray Wersching : biography August 21, 1950 – Raimund "Ray" Wersching (born August 21, 1950 in Mondsee, Austria) is an Austrian former placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). The kick on Sunday (Oct. 13) was the first fair catch kick attempt in the NFL since Sept. 26, 2013, when the 49ers’ Phil Dawson attempted one. The fair catch kick, ... Only five attempts were successful, including the last in 1976 when Ray Wersching converted from 45 yards for San Diego. He played in the NFL for a span of 15 years, stretching from 1973 through 1987. Phil Dawson of the San Francisco 49ers made an unsuccessful attempt at a 71-yard free kick … The last successful fair catch was made back in 1976 by former San Diego chargers player, Ray Wersching. Ball was on target but fell just short of the crossbar. Rollow, Cooper (Nov. 30, 1969). Fair catch was made on a botched squib kick. [25] Out of the 26 recorded fair catch kick attempts in regular season and postseason games, six were successful; all five known attempts in exhibition games were unsuccessful. Roberts, Ernie (Jan. 21, 1981). Wersching had a unique kicking style. It is also known as a “free kick field goal.” (Nov. 4, 1968). [2], Wersching holds an inactive public accountant's license. "Giants defeated by Steelers in seesaw contest at Polo Grounds". After making this request the player will then have to quick the ball through the goal posts in order to win three points. "Old-timers Perry, McElhenny, Tittle star in 24-21 rally". The last successful fair catch kick in the NFL was by Ray Wersching in 1976 for the San Diego Chargers against the Buffalo Bills. No, but it sure was random. (Aug. 31, 1986). [5] Wersching was eventually exonerated of the charges (while Locke served time in prison) but would lose his business as a result. Similarly, the kicker does not have to worry about a low snap because the ball is not snapped. The kick has been executed 4 more times in the NFL; the last successful fair catch kick was performed on Nov. 21, 1976, by Ray Wersching of the … In 1977, Wersching joined the San Francisco 49ers. The fair catch kick we just saw in Panthers-Bucs, explained. [1], Wersching had a unique kicking style. Share this article share tweet text email link Nate Scott. The kick seems to be so old that a footage of it can't be found easily online. Oates, Bob (Nov. 9, 1971). He was the 12th player in NFL history to score 1,000 points in a career, and is the most recent player to have scored from a fair catch kick. If the kick goes through the uprights, the kicking team scores 3 points. Early career He attended Warren High School in Downey, California. A similar rule in rugby, the goal from mark, allowed a player who had fair caught a ball to attempt an uncontested free kick from the spot of the fair catch. … [20], The fair catch kick rule is very rarely invoked,[14][16][17] and is one of the rarest plays in football. [8][9] If the attempt fails, the opposing team is awarded control of the ball from the spot of the kick. "Wanted three points". Because the defense is required to be ten yards beyond the spot of the kick, the kicker can take a running start before kicking as opposed to the typical two steps taken on regular field goal attempts. "Bears upset Packers, 13 to 10, on free kick in final seconds". [19] The fair catch kick is not legal in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) football; the NCAA abolished the fair catch in 1950, but re-added it a year later. "Redskins tie 49ers, 17-17". The Fair Catch Kick is one of the most discussed and debated obscure rules in the NFL Rulebook. [18] The fair catch kick has been present in the NFL rulebook since the league's inception,[14] and also remains in the NFHS rulebook. Had Slye made it, it would have been the first successful conversion of a fair catch kick since Ray Wersching nailed one for the Chargers in 1976. [12] The National Football League (NFL) rulebook specifically states that the fair catch kick is not a free kick,[4] instead considering the fair catch kick to be a distinct type of kick. The most recent successful "fair catch kick" came on Nov. 21, 1976 when San Diego's Ray Wersching made a 45-yard attempt. Upon crossing the out of bound line onto the field to kick a field goal or extra point, he always looked down, never raising his head until after he kicked. "Pro football patter". The Drop Kick is an alternate choice to kick a field goal or punt the ball. "Giants topple Redskins, 14-6". Raimund "Ray" Wersching (born August 21, 1950) is an Austrian former placekicker in the NFL. 4 Possession After A Touchdown But here is a video of attempted fair catch kick with rule explanation from Dean Blandino the NFL's Vice President of officiating. Wersching had a unique kicking style. This page was last edited on 16 January 2021, at 13:19. This happens during a kickoff. At the professional level, the last successful fair catch kick was made by Ray Wersching of the San Diego Chargers in 1976. For example, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, known for his knowledge and utilization of obscure football rules, declined the opportunity to attempt a 75-yard fair catch kick at the end of Super Bowl LI; although kicker Stephen Gostkowski was able to kick the ball that far and the game was tied, Belichick felt the risk of a return touchdown by the opposing team off a failed kick outweighed the opportunity to score from the kick. 2. For Panthers kicker Joey Slye, it was an opportunity to convert the first fair catch kick since Chargers kicker Ray Wersching in 1976, who made a 45-yarder at … Both major codes of rugby have eliminated the rule; rugby league abolished the goal from mark in 1922, and rugby union removed it in 1977. The fair catch kick exists at the NFL and high school level, but not at the college level, which is fairly rare. [4][7] Like other field goal attempts, the kicking team is awarded three points if the kick goes above the crossbar and between the goalposts of the opposing team's goal and did not touch a player of the kicking team after the kick. That was on Oct. 23, 1955 when the New York Giants' Ben Agajanian missed a 56-yard attempt. Katz, Michael (Nov. 26, 1979). The drop kick. Damer, Roy (Jul. NFL fair-catch kick attempts After a fair catch, an NFL team has the right to take a free kick from the line of scrimmage on the next play. Perhaps the most famous one was Mac … At least 10 fair catch kicks have been tried unsuccesfully since Wersching’s successful effort from 43 years ago, with all but one of them longer than Slye’s 59-yard try. Undrafted after his career at Cerritos College and the … He won another Super Bowl ring with the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX, defeating the Miami Dolphins 38-16. The fair catch kick is a rule at the professional and high school levels of American football that allows a team that has just made a fair catch to attempt a free kick[A] from the spot of the catch. Upon crossing the out of bound line onto the field to kick a field goal or extra point, he always looked down, never raising his head until after he kicked. Career highlights and awards. Last known successful fair catch kick in the NFL. Longest recorded successful fair catch kick in NFL. Was it a great achievement? In Super Bowl XVI, Wersching tied a Super Bowl record by kicking four field goals, and his field position kick-offs also helped his team win, 26-21. The 49ers tried one on a Monday Night game in Dallas about 20 years ago. [25] Accordingly, most fair catch kick attempts occur when a team has fair-caught a ball from a punt from deep in their opponent's territory but there is not enough time left in the half to go for a touchdown. Following the 1950 season, college football restored the fair catch, but explicitly removed the fair catch kick rule. "Rout of Chicago led by Hornung". Most recently, Mason Crosby of the Green Bay Packers attempted an unsuccessful 69-yard fair catch kick against the Detroit Lions on December 28, 2008. Made after a "sky high" punt that went only about 25 yards. "63-yard fg try on free kick falls short". The kick has been executed 4 more times in the NFL; the last successful fair catch kick was performed on Nov. 21, 1976, by Ray Wersching of the … He was the twelfth player in NFL history to score 1,000 points in a career, and was the most recent player to have scored from a fair catch kick. The fair catch kick is considered to be an obscure rule and it is rarely attempted. "L.A.'s special teams cost win in Baltimore". "Morton leads pro kings". The fair catch kick has its origins in rugby football's goal from mark, which has since been abolished in both major rugby codes; a similar rule, the mark, is a … The NFL does not keep a record of fair catch kick attempts, so the exact number of attempts is unknown. "Cards Win 9-6; Driscoll's Toe Tells Tale". The rule of the game is that the receiving player will have to do that. The last time a free kick was used in the NFL was by Ray Wersching in 1976. Wallace, William N. (Sep. 14, 1964). Because most fair catches are made well out of field goal range, and a team making a fair catch has possession of the ball and a first down, it is rarely to a team's advantage to attempt a fair catch kick rather than run a play from scrimmage. Florence, Mal (Nov. 25, 1967). The record in … "Giants turn back Green Bay by 17-6". The kick must be either a place kick or a drop kick, and if it passes over the crossbar and between the goalposts of the opposing team's goal, a field goal, worth three points, is awarded to the kicking team. The last time a kicker actually made a fair catch kick came back in 1976 when Ray Wersching hit one from 45-yards out for the Chargers in a game against the Bills. "Vikings stay alive". He attended Warren High School in Downey, California. The fair catch kick would also be of a shorter distance than a normal field goal attempt from the same spot, because the fair catch kick is taken from the spot of the catch, while a typical field goal is taken seven yards back from the line of scrimmage.[22]. Effrat, Louis (Oct. 24, 1955). When he retired, Wersching held 49ers records for points, field goals and extra points. Mitchell, Fred (Aug. 9, 1993). The fair catch kick rule states that, after a player has successfully made a fair catch or has been awarded a fair catch as the result of a penalty such as kick catch interference, their team can attempt a kick from the spot of the catch;[1][2] the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rulebook also allows a kick to be made if the down following the fair catch or awarded fair catch has to be replayed. When he retired, Wersching held 49ers records for points, field goals and extra points. Only six have ever been made, with Hornung’s 52-yarder the longest. Football Zebras has confirmed that Carl Cheffers will … Ray Wersching missed. With one exception, all fair catch kick attempts were made within the last 30 seconds of either the 2nd or 4th quarter. from 1977 to '87", "Ray Wersching - kicking around for work", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_Wersching&oldid=1000241325, Players of American football from California, NFL player missing current team parameter, Infobox NFL biography articles with old NFL.com URL, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 January 2021, at 08:04. Today could have been number seven, but … The last successful fair catch kick was made by Ray Wersching of San Diego Chargers. 1x All-Pro selection (1986) Raimund "Ray" Wersching (born August 21, 1950 in Mondsee, Austria) is an Austrian who is known for having been a professional placekicker in the National Football League ( NFL) for a span of 15 years, stretching from 1973 through 1987. [1] Prior to the kick, the opposing team must be lined up at least ten yards beyond the spot of the ball. 29, 1972). [13] Despite this, reporters at both levels describe the fair catch kick as a free kick. (Jan. 10, 1966). He was the twelfth player in NFL history to score 1,000 points in a career, and was the most recent player to have scored from a fair catch kick. The Niners could have also elected to do this during Super Bowl XLVII following the Ravens’ safety. "Berry almost blanked out on play that whipped the Bears". [3] He was a contestant on the original version of the game show High Rollers in 1975. [21] A unique set of circumstances is required for a fair catch kick to be a viable option. How It Happens The reason the play is so rare, it takes a certain set of circumstances for a coach to choose to … Since then, kickers … The last converted fair catch kick was a 45-yarder by San Diego’s Ray Wersching against Buffalo in 1976. A team may attempt a fair catch kick if it makes a fair catch within reasonable range when the clock expires at the end of either half, as a half must be extended in order to allow a fair catch kick attempt. (Nov. 14, 1984). Wersching had a unique kicking style. (Oct. 6, 1969). The most recent fair catch kick attempt was by Carolina Panthers kicker Joey Slye, who missed a 60-yard fair catch kick wide right on October 13, 2019. However, the last time a fair catch kick was successfully turn into three points was by Chargers’ kicker Ray Wersching in 1976. Longest field goal attempt on record until 2008. "Oilers 17, Cowboys 14". The last kicker to make the rare kick was the San Diego Chargers’ Ray Wersching, who made one from 45 yards in 1976. [4], In 2006; Wersching along with business partner Mary Ann Locke were indicted on embezzlement charges of $8 million in insurance premiums. [24] Art McNally, who led the officiating department of the National Football League from 1968 to 1990, said that even in the event a fair catch is made within field goal range, most teams would attempt to score a touchdown unless there is not enough time left to score one. Sarah Thomas becomes the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl. He played in the NFL for a span of 15 years, from 1973 through 1987. When the fair catch returned to the rulebook, however, the option to attempt a kick after the fair catch was removed. None have been made since 1976. Kicker Joey Slye attempted the first fair-catch kick in the NFL since 2013. Raimund "Ray" Wersching (born August 21, 1950) is an Austrian former placekicker in the NFL. The fair catch kick has its origins in rugby football's goal from mark, which has since been abolished in both major rugby codes; a similar rule, the mark, is a major part of Australian rules football. "Color Rockingham grey". "Colt 'free kick' no consequence". They managed to turn a fair catch into three points, thanks to placekicker Ray Wersching. He played in the NFL for a span of 15 years, from 1973 through 1987. The last successful attempt was made in 1976 by Ray Wersching of the San Diego Chargers (45 yards), and the longest successful attempt was made in 1964 by Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers (52 yards). He attended Warren High School in Downey, California. When he retired, Wersching held 49ers records for points, field goals and extra points. [6], "Quirky Research: NFL fair catch kick attempts™", "Kicker lined up success in NFL, but life after game proves harder", "California Board of Accountancy - License Lookup", "SAN FRANCISCO / Former 49er indicted in embezzlement case / Ray Wersching was a placekicker for S.F. like October 13, 2019 11:17 am. The last such successful fair catch kick was on November 21, 1976, when Ray Wersching of the San Diego Chargers converted from 45 yards in a game against the Buffalo Bills. Since then, seven fair-catch kicks have been attempted. Carl Cheffers is the referee for Super Bowl LV. For one, the fair catch would need to be made at a point on the field where a field goal attempt has a reasonable chance of being successful;[22] most fair catches are made well outside of field goal range. He was the 12th player in NFL history to score 1,000 points in a career, and is the most recent player to have scored from a fair catch kick. White, Gordon S., Jr. (Sep. 14, 1964). [14][15][16], The fair catch kick found in American football originated in rugby football. [23], Furthermore, for a fair catch kick to be a viable option near the end of the fourth quarter, the team attempting the kick needs to be either tied or behind by three points or fewer; even if such a situation were to occur, a coach might still decline to attempt a fair catch kick. The defense is not able to block the kick, allowing the kicker to give the ball a lower trajectory than usual. [10][11] The opposing team can also return the kick if it does not go out of bounds. "Safetyman blitz shackles Tittle". Usually high school rules are closer to college rules. Dozer, Richard (Dec. 9, 1968). Undrafted after his career at Cerritos College and the University of California, Berkeley, Wersching was signed by the San Diego Chargers, where he played for four years. [3][11], In the NFHS rulebook, the fair catch kick is specifically defined as a free kick. Raul Allegre attempts a 61-yard fair catch kick after the Colts fair catch a short Patriots kickoff. National Federation of State High School Associations, National Collegiate Athletics Association, "Bears shocked Packers with last-minute free kick", "Rare free kick leads to huge, last-minute win in Miami", "Fair catch kick would add old-time pizzazz to playoffs", "Bill Belichick passed up an opportunity to end Super Bowl 51 in the weirdest possible way", "Monolithic Packers-Bears Rivalry Evokes Numerous Memories", http://www.packershistory.net/1921PACKERS/GAME3.html, "McNair guides Titans past winless Texans", "49ers pull in front of Rams 14-3 at the half", "Official Playing Rules and Casebook of the National Football League", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fair_catch_kick&oldid=1000737045, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Joey Votto walked on three balls, in a way stealing first base. (Nov. 3, 1958). I’ve seen one fair catch kick attempted in my life. At the professional level, the last successful fair catch kick was made in 1976 by San Diego Chargers's Ray Wersching who kicked it 45-yards past the Buffalo Bills. At the professional level, the last successful fair catch kick was made by Ray Wersching of the San Diego Chargers in 1976. Rollow, Cooper (Dec. 11, 1966). "Matte's passing paces Colts to 35-to-3 upset of Cowboys in Playoff Bowl". [17], Despite its drawbacks, there are several unique advantages to using the fair catch kick. The Steelers never have attempted a "fair catch kick," and the franchise was only involved in one game when one was attempted. Kelley, Robert F. (Nov. 27, 1933). [3][4] The kick itself can be either a place kick or drop kick;[5][6] a kicking tee cannot be used at the professional level, but use of a tee up to two inches in height is permitted at the high school level. 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