While the idea of any NFL team using a QB as a returner sounds outlandish, it isn’t novel.
Over the past four seasons, the Saints’ Taysom Hill — who has been used as a QB, receiver, running back and tight end — has returned 19 kickoffs. In 2020 and 2021 — when he threw 121 and 134 passes, respectively — he never returned a kickoff.
Before Hill, the most recent quarterback to return kickoffs was Joe Webb, a career backup who made himself useful with kickoff duties in parts of five seasons for the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers. He also started the Vikings’ 2012 playoff game against the Green Bay Packers after first-string quarterback Christian Ponder went down with an injury.
In the 1960s, Baltimore Colts running back Tom Matte, who also played sparingly behind Johnny Unitas at quarterback, returned kickoffs. His versatility helped him lock down a roster spot.
In the early decades of the league, when player salaries were a fraction of today’s, players often played multiple positions. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Pro Football Hall of Famer Charley Trippi was a versatile star for the Chicago Cardinals. He played QB in 1951 and 1952.
“Any place on the field he could play. And he was a real star,” said Bill Bidwill, per a 2022 story by Darren Urban of the Arizona Cardinals’ website. Bidwill, who went on to own the team, served as a ballboy for the Cardinals’ 1947 NFL championship team.
In the 1947 NFL Championship Game, Trippi — who threw only two passes that season — returned a punt for a 75-yard touchdown. He also played QB, safety, punted and returned kickoffs at various points in his career.
While he didn’t return kickoffs, Washington quarterback Sammy Baugh — another Pro Football Hall of Famer — served on the kickoff coverage unit during his career, bringing down ball-carriers instead of escorting them to the end zone. Although, he got in on the scoring action returning punts.
Another former Washington quarterback, Joe Theismann, put in work as a returner during the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
Don’t count on Fields emulating Baugh in 2024 — at least on kick coverage.
