Rich Caster

Richard Caesar Caster (October 16, 1948 – February 2, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a tight end for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the New York Jets. He also played occasionally as a wide receiver. He played college football for the Jackson State Tigers and was selected by the Jets in the second round of the 1970 NFL draft. Caster is the NFL all-time leader in career receiving yards per reception by a tight end (minimum 200 career receptions) with 17.3.^[2]

Rich Caster

No. 88, 86, 82
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(1948-10-16)October 16, 1948 Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Died:	February 2, 2024(2024-02-02) (aged 75) New York, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	228 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school:	Williamson (Mobile)
College:	Jackson State
NFL draft:	1970: 2nd round, 46th pick
Career history
New York Jets (1970–1977) Houston Oilers (1978–1980) New Orleans Saints (1981) Washington Redskins (1981–1982)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XVII) 3× Pro Bowl (1972, 1974, 1975) NFL records Career yards per reception by a tight end (minimum 200 career receptions): 17.3[1]
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 322 Receiving yards: 5,515 Receiving touchdowns: 45 Stats at Pro Football Reference

NFL career statistics

Legend
	Won the Super Bowl
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Receiving
		GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1970	NYJ	14	6	19	393	20.7	72	3
1971	NYJ	14	14	26	454	17.5	57	6
1972	NYJ	14	13	39	833	21.4	80	10
1973	NYJ	14	14	35	593	16.9	49	4
1974	NYJ	13	13	38	745	19.6	89	7
1975	NYJ	14	14	47	820	17.4	91	4
1976	NYJ	14	14	31	391	12.6	41	1
1977	NYJ	10	10	10	205	20.5	58	1
1978	HOU	14	6	20	316	15.8	47	5
1979	HOU	16	14	18	239	13.3	36	1
1980	HOU	16	0	27	341	12.6	68	3
1981	NOR	4	0	7	108	15.4	31	0
	WAS	3	1	5	77	15.4	26	0
1982	WAS	1	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
		161	119	322	5,515	17.1	91	45

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games		Receiving
		GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1978	HOU	2	2	8	67	8.4	21	0
1979	HOU	3	3	0	0	0.0	0	0
1980	HOU	1	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
1982	WAS	1	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
		8	5	8	67	8.4	21	0

Personal life

His son, Max, is a professional wrestler signed to All Elite Wrestling.^[3] Caster died from complications of Parkinson's disease on February 2, 2024, at the age of 75.^[4]