Cameron Dicker career timeline: How ‘Dicker the Kicker’ went from Eagles to Chargers and earned Carrie Underwood shoutout

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The Chargers have dealt with injury issues at the kicker spot during the 2022 NFL season, but they haven’t yet had an issue at the position.

Dustin Hopkins has proven to be a solid starter when healthy, and former USFL star Taylor Bertolet was perfect filling in for the veteran when he had to miss time with a calf injury.

Now, it is Cameron Dicker who is in the lineup with both Hopkins (hamstring) and Bertolet (undisclosed) injured. He, too, has performed at a high level.

Dicker has made all eight of his kicks since joining the Chargers and has made each of his 12 field goals and extra points during his rookie NFL season. The undrafted free agent is quickly proving that he belongs in the NFL, and his legend will only continue to grow if he continues to find success.

But how did the man affectionately known as “Dicker the Kicker” go from being an undrafted afterthought to getting a national-television shoutout from legendary “American Idol” and country music star Carrie Underwood? Here’s what to know about his rapid rise and career to date.

MORE: How Cameron Dicker became Chargers’ clutch fill-in for Dustin Hopkins

Cameron Dicker career timeline

2018-2021: Dicker played at Texas, where he quickly became a star for the Longhorns during his freshman season. He made a 40-yard field goal to defeat archrival Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry game, and that helped to make his “Dicker the Kicker” moniker stick.

Dicker would go on to have a solid college career, making 60 of 79 field goals (75.9 percent), 206 of 210 extra points (98.1 percent) and cutting it as a punter during his final year at Texas (46.8 yards per punt).

Jan. 19, 2022: Dicker declares for the 2022 NFL Draft after a four-year career at Texas. He makes the announcement on Instagram and says the following of his time with the program:

Words cannot express how thankful I am for Longhorn Football, The University of Texas, and the City of Austin. To my coaches, professors, teammates, and fans, thank you for your support. There is nothing like the pride and loyalty of The University of Texas and of being a Longhorn. The Forty Acres has given me so much more than just a college football career and one of the best educations in the nation, it has given me an extended family that bleeds Burnt Orange.

Below is a look at Dicker’s full post.

April 30, 2022: Dicker officially goes undrafted. Only one kicker is selected in total — Browns fourth-round pick Cade York from LSU.

May 4, 2022: Dicker officially signs with the Rams as an undrafted free agent. 

Aug. 13, 2022: Dicker plays in his first NFL preseason games. He makes all three of his extra point attempts but doesn’t attempt a field goal. He also serves as the team’s top punter, averaging 52.7 yards per boot and downing one punt inside the 20 with a long of 58 yards.

Aug. 16, 2022: Despite his strong performance in preseason Week 1, Dicker is among the first Rams cuts of the 2022 NFL offseason.

Aug. 26, 2022: The Ravens sign Dicker to their roster 10 days later. Notably, Baltimore lists Dicker as a punter after signing him.

Aug. 27, 2022: Dicker serves as the Ravens’ kicker and punter during their final preseason game. He makes a 38-yard field goal, converts both of his extra point attempts and averages 47.3 yards per punt with two downed inside the 20-yard line. His longest punt travels 57 yards.

Aug. 28, 2022: The Ravens release Dicker, content to roll with star kicker Justin Tucker and rookie fourth-round punter Jordan Stout as their special teams duo.

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Oct. 4, 2022: The Eagles sign Dicker to their practice squad while their top kicker Jake Elliott deals with an ankle injury. Dicker is to start if Elliott can’t get healthy enough to do so.

Oct. 9, 2022: With Elliott out, Dicker is Philadelphia’s top kicker against the Cardinals. He makes all four of his kicks — two field goals and two extra points — while converting on a 23-yard field goal that ends up being a game-winner.

Oct. 12, 2022: Dicker is named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against the Cardinals. He is the first Eagles player to do that in his first start for the team since 1994.

Oct. 16, 2022: Elliott returns to action for the Eagles, so Dicker remains on the team’s practice squad.

Oct. 29, 2022: The Eagles release Dicker with Elliott feeling no ill effects from his ankle problem. He goes unclaimed on waivers and becomes a free agent.

Nov. 3, 2022: The Chargers sign Dicker to their practice squad with Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) and Taylor Bertolet (undisclosed) both dealing with injuries. It is expected that Dicker will have a chance to start in Week 9 against the Falcons.

Nov. 6, 2022: Dicker makes his first appearance with the Chargers, against whom he kicked in his lone preseason game with the Rams. He makes both of his extra points and two field goals, including a 37-yard game-winner as time expires. He is carried off the field in exultation.

Nov. 8, 2022: Dicker is named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week thanks to his game-winning kick against the Falcons. It marks the second time in as many games that he has been named a player of the week in games across both conferences.

Nov. 13, 2022: Dicker serves as the Chargers’ top kicker again, and he makes four kicks again. This time, it’s three field goals, with a long of 47, and one extra point. However, the Chargers lose 22-16 to the 49ers on “Sunday Night Football.”

MORE: As Brandon Staley’s seat grows hotter, Sean Payton could make sense for Chargers

Why Carrie Underwood reached out to Cameron Dicker during “Sunday Night Football”

Of course, the “Sunday Night Football” game against the 49ers wasn’t just notable for Dicker’s performance. It was also because he received a message from Carrie Underwood during the contest.

For context, Dicker had revealed ahead of the game that he was on his way to a Carrie Underwood concert with his girlfriend on Nov. 1 when he got an important call.

“I was like, ‘Oh, my agent’s calling me, this is weird,'” he said. “Then, ‘Hey, how fast can you be at the airport?’ [I] said, ‘An hour and a half,’ hopped on a flight and came right out.”

That call was about a chance to join the Chargers. They wanted to sign Dicker to their practice squad and give him a chance to start with Dustin Hopkins and Taylor Bertolet set to be out of action.

Naturally, Dicker jumped at the opportunity to join the Chargers, but that meant he couldn’t go to the concert.

But thanks to some help from NBC, Underwood got word of Dicker’s plight. As such, the “Sunday Night Football” theme song singer told the kicker that he could come to another of her concerts as she continues to tour across the country.

Dicker didn’t address the shoutout after the game, but surely he will take the country music star up on her offer.

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