Ray Wersching

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Wersching attended Warren High School in Downey, California. Undrafted after his career at Cerritos College and the University of California, Berkeley, he was signed by the San Diego Chargers, where he played for four years. In 1977, he joined the San Francisco 49ers. In Super Bowl XVI, he tied a Super Bowl record by kicking four field goals, and his field position kick-offs helped his team win 26–21. He won another Super Bowl ring with the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX, defeating the Miami Dolphins 38–16. When he retired, Wersching held 49ers records for points, field goals, and extra points. He was the 12th player in NFL history to score 1,000 points in a career, and was the last player to have scored on a fair catch kick until 2024 by Cameron Dicker. Wersching had a unique kicking style: upon crossing the out of bound line onto the field to kick a field goal or extra point, he always looked down, tapped his quarterback on the shoulder to help him get his spot, and only looked at the hash marks, never raising his head until after he kicked.

In Their Own Story

The fog rolled off the bay and settled over Candlestick Park, biting at the exposed skin of the players on the sideline. The clock ticked down in a tight NFC Championship game, the air thick with tension and the smell of wet grass. Wersching stepped onto the turf, his cleats crunching against the frozen ground. He didn't look at the scoreboard; he only looked at the uprights, framed by the gray sky. A hush fell over the crowd as he placed the ball on the tee, took a few measured steps back, and began his rhythmic approach. The snap was clean, the hold perfect. As his leg connected with the leather, time seemed to suspend in the cold air. The ball spiraled through the mist, a white streak against the gray, sailing cleanly between the uprights. The roar that followed wasn't just noise; it was the sound of a dynasty being born.

Reader's Guide

Wersching holds an inactive public accountant's license. He was a contestant on the original version of the game show High Rollers in 1975. In 2006, Wersching along with business partner Mary Ann Locke were indicted on embezzlement charges of $8 million in insurance premiums. Wersching served six months in home confinement and was placed on probation for two years. When he pleaded guilty in December 2007 to failing to file a corporate tax return, federal prosecutors dropped charges that he had been involved in an $8 million embezzlement (while Locke served time in prison) but would lose his business as a result.

Did You Know?

• Wersching tied a Super Bowl record by kicking four field goals in Super Bowl XVI.
• He was the 12th player in NFL history to score 1,000 points in a career.
• He was the last player to score on a fair catch kick until 2024.