What is the rarest rule in the NFL?

The NFL’s Most Mysterious Rule: The Fair Catch Kick

Deep in the rulebook of the NFL lies a forgotten relic so unusual that most fans have probably never seen it—and many don’t even know it exists. It’s called the fair catch kick, and it might just be the rarest play in football.

Here’s how it works: if a team makes a fair catch on a punt, they have the option to attempt a free kick from that exact spot on the next play. No defenders can rush the kicker, but they must stay 10 yards away. It’s essentially a field goal attempt, but without a snap or hold—just a drop kick or placekick from the spot of the catch.

Because the conditions have to be nearly perfect. The fair catch must happen deep enough in field position to make the kick worth attempting, and teams usually prefer to take their chances with a standard drive. Plus, coaches tend to avoid unorthodox plays unless desperation sets in.

The last successful fair catch kick in the NFL was in 1976 by Ray Wersching of the Chargers. Since then, there have been a handful of attempts, but none good. It’s the kind of play you might see in a trivia game—not on Sunday.

Some call it “obsolete.” Others find charm in its quirkiness. Either way, the fair catch kick remains a footnote in football history—a ghost play that lingers in the rules, waiting for the perfect storm of timing, courage, and a little madness.