The rationale for having a backup quarterback holding is that the quarterback is accustomed to receiving snaps from the center and long snaps from the shotgun formation. He also provides a threat for a fake field goal since the quarterback can throw a pass on such plays. Additionally, in the event of a bad snap and an aborted kick attempt, the holder might have to become the quarterback for the play, so having an actual quarterback helps in that regard. Before the 2010s, in the NFL, backup quarterbacks generally held for field goal kicks.[citation needed]
Having the backup quarterback play as the holder has faded out in the NFL, mainly due to an NFL rule, in effect until 2011, that allowed teams to dress a third quarterback who could enter the game only in emergencies. However, such usage has remained rather common in collegiate football. Many times a quarterback who was a redshirt freshman will serve as the holder his sophomore year. It is also common in other professional leagues such as the Arena Football League (where there is no punting and are thus no punters) or the Canadian Football League, where roster size restrictions generally result in one person serving as both placekicker and punter.
Exceptions
There are a few NFL teams that still use a quarterback as their holder.
New Orleans Saints – The Saints tend to run more fake field goals than any other team, and due to that they generally keep a backup in as their holder (this keeps opposing defenses in more of a zone coverage, and also helps to prevent blocked field goals). Their holders for a period were quarterback Luke McCown and punter Thomas Morstead. In 1970, Saints kicker Tom Dempsey kicked a 63-yard field goal, which for many years thereafter was the all-time record. Dempsey's holder was a defensive back named Joe Scarpati. There has been an urban myth going around during the intervening decades that the holder on this legendary kick was the team's colorful starting quarterback, Billy Kilmer, who did hold on occasion. [5]
Dallas Cowboys – When Tony Romo was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, he was their backup quarterback, and as the backup quarterback, part of his job was to be the team's holder. Romo was replaced by the punter in 2010, but due to many mishandled snaps, which resulted in missed field goals, Romo returned as the team's official holder. The Cowboys hired a more experienced holder, Brian Moorman, in 2012; Moorman left the team at the end of the season. Throughout the 1990s, starting tight end Jay Novacek was the usual holder on kicks. During their first two Super Bowl seasons (1970 and 1971), reserve running back Dan Reeves, who was also an assistant coach, was the Cowboys' holder. Safety Charlie Waters was the holder during the Cowboys' runs to Super Bowl XII and Super Bowl XIII in 1977 and 1978.
Las Vegas Raiders – The Raiders' Matt Schaub was used as the holder during the 2014 season. Previously, Daryle Lamonica (1967–69) and Ken Stabler (1970-75) held for George Blanda; when Blanda retired in 1976, the holding duties were assumed by punter Ray Guy, who continued to do so through his retirement following the 1986 season.
Denver Broncos – The Broncos used to have former starting quarterback Jake Plummer as their holder and continued to do so even after he was benched in favor of Jay Cutler. When Plummer retired, the Broncos started to use their punter as their holder.
Washington Commanders – Starting quarterback Joe Theismann held for Mark Moseley from the mid-1970s until he suffered his career-ending broken leg during a 1985 Monday Night Football game vs. the New York Giants.
Seattle Seahawks – Steve Largent, a wide receiver, was the kick holder, and in 1985, he ran in a muffed snap for an extra point.[6]
Los Angeles Rams -- Safety Nolan Cromwell, a Wishbone quarterback at Kansas, was also a holder for most of his 11-year career (1977-87). During a December 1979 game vs. the Minnesota Vikings, he scored touchdown on a fake field goal in overtime to give the Rams a 27-21 victory which clinched the NFC West championship.