"Quarterback" I kinda understand, - presumably a quarterback was originally named for standing further forward than a halfback or a fullback. Like, literally the fraction of how far back you are. "Tight end" always makes me snicker in an adolescent fashion though.

Lots of cricket terms seem ostensibly silly but make sense in similar context. Like "square leg" which sounds funny because lol aharr matey cap'n pegleg and so forth. But really, it's a guy standing square to the wicket (base) on the leg side of the field (the side where the batsman is standing)