- By Gregg Nelson
For the first time since 2008, the New York Dragons are back on Long Island, playing in their old stomping grounds at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The original Dragons had many great and memorable players including Will Holder who used to play as a wide receiver and defensive back for the Dragons from 2003 to 2007.
Holder was born in Orange, New Jersey, but grew up in Vacaville, California, where he first started playing football. His earliest memory in football was playing for the Vacaville Bulldogs, where he played as a Running Back, and a Quarterback, where he was dubbed William “The Arm” Holder, due to his cannon arm.
When he moved back to New Jersey, he played at Orange High School as a Quarterback, and also punted and made kicks for the team, where he was dubbed William “The Foot” Holder for his impressive kicking ability. Will Holder went to college at Monmouth University where he played for their first ever football season in program history. He was originally recruited as a quarterback, but at a scrimmage the coach told him otherwise.
“You’re not going to be our starting QB,” recalled Holder of what the coach said. “But we want you to go home back to your dorm and think about another position you want to play because we don’t want your talent, speed, and gift on the bench.”
After going to his dorms and talking to his friends, he made the decision to play as a wide receiver, which he would play for the remainder of his tenure with the team. While playing, he set a program record for 115 catches for 2,309 yards and 25 touchdowns.
“At the time and for several years after, those records were held and it felt really good,” said Holder. “I did not go to Monmouth to break records or to set records or anything of that nature. I just wanted to play the sport that I knew and loved so dearly in Football.”
After graduating from college, he was invited to a rookie mini-camp for the New York Giants. Unfortunately, he was let go during the camp and was injured during that same time.
“That stung not making the roster,” said Holder. “Not even getting a shot to make the roster with the Giants…it hurt.”
In 2002, he was hooked up with an agent who informed him about a tryout with the New Jersey Gladiators of the Arena Football League. While speaking about the tryout process, he told me about how the events of 9/11 were a big factor in transforming his motivations in life and how brief it is.
“This was not long after 9/11,” said Holder. “I also have to include how 9/11 helped transform my motivation about life. About how brief life can be and how important this moment is. How important the moment that you exist in right now is to your trajectory in life and whether or not you can or can’t reach your goals because life is short. 9/11 had a huge impact on my will, motivation, and my drive.”
During the training camp for the Gladiators, he suffered groin and hamstring related injuries, sidelining him for the rest of the season, which warranted his release from the team as well. One year later, his agent told him that there was a tryout for the New York Dragons. Since he now knew what the Arena Football atmosphere was like, he felt a familiarity with it and knew what was in store for him.
During the training camp, the starting quarterback for the Dragons noticed his abilities as a receiver and made sure that he linked up with him in drills. After the tryout was over, Head Coach John Gregory came over to him and the agent and told him that he would be in contact and the rest is history.
Holder’s motivation after 9/11 drove him to do the things that he really wanted, and that was to play professional football. With his time in the Coliseum, he grew a fan base within the team. One experience he had with the fan base was when a group of fans he still gets along with would bring a whiteboard to the game with his name “Iron” Will Holder and keep track of his stats as the game would go on.
After his rookie year, he was invited by the Philadelphia Eagles and he was offered a contract to go to NFL Europe. He declined to go to Europe due to family reasons. In 2005, his agent organized a workout with the scout for the Oakland Raiders, which was former Green Bay Packer Sean Jones. Another man who worked out with Sean and Will was Terrell Willis, who was a former high school teammate and a Rutgers University graduate. He was signed and brought to an All-Rookie Mini-Camp, then the actual training camp with the roster.
”That’s when I realized I could play in the NFL,” said Holder. “You know what else I realized? Not everybody who plays in the NFL are there because they’re good. Anyone who’s been there knows this. Not everyone there is there because they are the best. It’s who you know.”
In 2008, he went to Kansas City to play for the KC Brigade. After that year, the league folded due to the Recession. After leaving football, he became a banker for Chase, as well as working as a substitute teacher and a firefighter, which he had taken the physical test for right after a Dragon’s practice in 2003.
“I went from practice with the Dragons – fire breathing football – to a test to become a firefighter then right back to fire breathing football,” said Holder.
He chose to drop football due to his injuries and to prepare for the road ahead.
And now, Holder is excited about the return of the Dragons.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how the team is going to be, what the identity will be and how it relates and compares to the original Dragons,” said Holder.
Will Holder plans on being at the first home game of the season on June 14th against the New Jersey Ciphers.