NFL Rules for Free Kick Field Goals

The free kick field goal is a seldom-seen play in the National Football League. The play is so rare that the last successful free kick field goal in an NFL game, as of June 2010, came on Nov. 3, 1968. Chicago Bears kicker Mac Percival won the game for his team against the Minnesota Vikings by kicking a 43-yard field goal under this rule with just 20 seconds left in the contest. Many fans are unfamiliar with the rules that cover this scenario.

  1. Fair Catch and Kick

    • A fair catch in the National Football League occurs when an offensive player catches a punt or a kick-off after making a clear signal to the referee, and the opposing team, with his arm while the kick is on its way to him. The defensive side cannot tackle or hit the offensive man catching the ball, nor can the offensive player advance the ball. The fair catch is typically seen on punts, but the offense may employ it on a kickoff if it so desires. After any fair catch, the offensive team may opt to kick a free kick field goal, which has the same point value (three ) as a normal field goal. The kicker may drop kick the ball through the goal posts—a process that involves dropping the ball at the feet kicking the same time as it hits the ground. This type of kick throws back to the old days of football and is almost as rare as a free kick field goal. The kicker may also play the ball in the same manner as for extra points and normal field goals, with one end on the ground and a player supporting the other with a finger.

    A Free Kick

    • For a free kick field goal, the kicker simply lines up and kicks the ball when the referees are ready. The term “free kick” applies to this play because the defense cannot block it in the normal manner.The defense lines up no closer than 10 yards from the line of scrimmage, where the kick attempt will come from, and cannot react until the moment the kicker kicks the football. Under the NFL rules, even if the time is up during the fair catch process, the team making it can attempt the field goal.

    Potential Return

    • The kick carries risks. If it is short and lands on the playing field, the defensive side can attempt to return it for a touchdown. On Nov. 23, 2008, Neil Rackers of the Arizona Cardinals missed on a 68-yard attempt and the New York Giants returned the ball to their own 30-yard line before the Cardinals made the tackle. A free kick field goal attempt that misses but goes through the end zone and out of bounds is a touchback and the defensive side gains possession at their 20-yard line.