EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — When Cameron Dicker lined up for a 33-yard field goal with the game on the line Sunday, there was no hesitation — from him or anyone watching. The third-year kicker calmly split the uprights, delivering the Chargers a dramatic 29-27 win and cementing another career milestone along the way.
On Wednesday, Dicker was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week — the fifth such honor of his young career.
The award comes after a career-best 17-point performance for Dicker, who tied his single-game high with five made field goals. His clutch game-winner in the final seconds wasn’t just another kick — it was another mark in a record-setting pace for the 25-year-old.
Dicker has made 105 of 111 career field goal attempts, good for an astonishing 94.6 percent accuracy rate. That currently places him first in NFL history among qualified kickers.
Nicknamed “Dicker the Kicker,” his journey to NFL stardom is as unique as his consistency on the field.
Dicker was born in Hong Kong, where his parents, both Seattle natives, were living at the time. The family moved to Shanghai shortly afterward for his father’s job before relocating to Austin, Texas, in 2011. It was there that Dicker began his football journey, eventually becoming a standout kicker at the University of Texas.
Despite going undrafted in 2022, Cameron Dicker found himself moving between practice squads before ultimately signing with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he quickly gained the trust of coaches, teammates, and fans. Dicker was initially signed by the Los Angeles Rams in May 2022 but was released in August, prior to the start of the season. Shortly thereafter, days before the season began, he was signed by the Baltimore Ravens but was released just two days later, which was a difficult time for him.
In October 2022, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Dicker, but he was released later that month. On November 3, the Los Angeles Chargers signed him to their practice squad. Just a few days later, he kicked a game-winning field goal against the Atlanta Falcons. Dicker was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time in his rookie season, making him the first rookie kicker to win the award twice. Now, just three seasons into his NFL career, he’s rewriting the record books while providing stability at one of the league’s most volatile positions.
The Chargers returned to the field on Wednesday as they prepare for Week 7, but several key players were either limited or sidelined.
Joe Alt (ankle)Trey PipkinsElijah MoldenTroy DyeKeenan Allen (rest)Derius Davis — wearing a brace on his right knee, but moving well.Khalil Mack — back for the first time since Week 2.Jamaree SalyerQuentin Johnston
Joe Alt didn’t participate in team drills but was working off to the side and looked encouraging in lateral movement drills — a positive sign for the team’s first-round pick.
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh announced Wednesday that Khalil Mack’s 21-day practice window has officially opened, following the elbow injury that sidelined him in Week 2. The 34-year-old edge rusher was back on the practice field, and while his exact return timeline is unclear, it’s an encouraging development for a defense that could use his presence.
As the Chargers push forward through a critical stretch of the season, Dicker’s reliability and growing legend might just be one of the most underrated weapons in the league. From Hong Kong beginnings to NFL history, “Dicker the Kicker” is proving that legends can come from the most unexpected places.