LA Rams lose LS Jake McQuaide to Dallas Cowboys

The LA Rams long snapper Jake McQuaide is heading to the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year deal to rejoin former ST Coordinator John Fassell and placekicker Greg Zuerlein. While not a surprising move, this one certainly marks the end of one more chapter in the Rams anthology for special teams.

Now, only punter Johnny Hekker remains. Is he the next man to go? The last of the Rams special team Mohicans left standing?

The Rams have enjoyed McQuaide since 2011, making him the longest-tenured Ram on the team. But over time, the Rams have looked to improve on special teams. And last offseason, special teams coordinator John Fassel signed on with the Dallas Cowboys, only to be quickly followed by free agent kicker Greg Zuerlein.

Now, the two-time Pro-Bowler (2016-2017) McQuaide joins (err, re-joins) his special teams’ bandmates in Big D. The 33-year-old has played all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Rams, appearing in all 160 games.

His future with the team was cast into doubt, however, when the team added long snapper Colin Holba to the team three months ago. Holba is a three-year NFL veteran who has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the San Francisco 49ers, and the New York Giants. Holba was cut from the Giants in April 2020 until the Rams signed him to their practice squad.

Holba was signed to a reserve/futures contract, as most practice squad players are handled. Then the Rams followed up by signing a second long snapper to a reserve/futures contract, LS Steven Wirtel.

You could say McQuaide’s departure had the writings on the wall, or perhaps three’s a crowd. In any case, he is not coming back. A new chapter in the LA Rams special teams begins.