49ers

SF @ NO · Nov 13, 1977 · Season 1977, 9

I've watched this footage over and over again, and I am no closer to understanding what the intention of this play design was - it truly is a sight to behold. In a 7-7 4th quarter tie with less than 2 minutes to play, the Saints break the huddle and align in an exotic split alignment with the center (note - the Saints were using a longsnapper/specialist for punting, but not for field goals at this time) and 2 other linemen to the right and 5 linemen to the left and a back behind the left flank. Meanwhile, punter/holder Tom Blanchard and tragic protagonist of this weird play, Rich Szaro, are lined up behind the ball and to the left in a shockingly normal alignment for a right-footed kicker - which Szaro was not. Szaro was impressively ambidextrous for a naturally left-footed kicker, so given the chaos at the line, we'll call this normal. Then the Saints shifted into a truly vanilla field goal alignment. The architect of this play thought it'd be clever to show a right-footed attempt (for the shock value) then flip to Szaro's natural left-footed alignment. Being a kicker in the NFL is hard. Being an ambidextrous kicker at a professional level is an incredible feat that deserves to be commended. Being asked to invert your pre-play calculus in the span of about 6 seconds is an impossible ask that leads to a very predictable outcome.

SF @ WAS · Sep 14, 1998 · Season 1998, 2

No video that we've yet been able to find for this early season blowout of the Redskins by the Niners, but CBS has an old post-game write-up that calls out both of the doinks.. What happened in the aftermath was even more important - David Akers was signed by Washington to take over kicking duties. Akers's tenure in Washington would be rough, but he overcame the adversity through a fresh start in Philadelphia - the rest is history.

CAR @ SF · Nov 8, 1998 · Season 1998, 10

John Kasay's 57-yard attempt as time expired initially appears to be a clean miss, and the broadcast audio calls it as such. The kick credits to the doink ledger only because the Associated Press postgame write-up flagged crossbar contact, and a frame-by-frame review confirms it. The ball's trajectory shifts ever-so-slightly as it crosses the face of the crossbar. The untouched angle would have carried the ball to the base of the goalpost; instead, it lands five yards behind the end line before skipping further backwards into the field of play. Subtle collision, but a collision. The doink stands as called.