Holder (gridiron football)
In gridiron football, the holder is the player who receives the snap from the long snapper during field goal or extra point attempts made by the placekicker.
Before the play begins, the holder places the hand which is closest to the placekicker on the ground in a location designated by the kicker's foot, with their forward hand ready to receive the snap (in high school games, the holder/kicker combo is responsible for a kicking block, which lifts the ball off the turf).
Others include tight end Jay Novacek, and safeties Paul Krause and Keith Lyle).
New England Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick explained that punters are generally holders for the reason that punters and kickers usually have more time together to game plan, watch film, and are able to have more reps during practice than a player who has to play another position.
In 1970, Saints kicker Tom Dempsey kicked a 63-yard field goal, which for many years thereafter was the all-time record.
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.
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.
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.
One example where the botch play still lead to points was when Brad Wing dropped the ball prior to placing it on the ground, preventing his kicker from making an attempt, creating the "fire drill" situation.
