Former New York Jets star and three-time Pro Bowl selection Richard Caster dies aged 75

Former New York Jets tight end and wide receiver Richard Caster, who was selected to three Pro Bowls during his 13-year NFL career, has died. He was 75.

Family representative Kenny Zore confirmed that Caster died in his sleep Friday morning on Long Island, New York, after a long illness.

Caster, a second-round pick of the Jets in 1970 out of Jackson State, caught 322 passes for 5,515 yards and 45 touchdowns during his NFL career.

Caster spent his first eight seasons with New York and became a favorite target of Joe Namath.

The 6-foot-2, 228-pound Caster entered the league as a wide receiver who ran a 15-foot 40-yard dash, but was later switched to tight end by coach Weeb Ewbank because of his combination of size and speed .

Caster spent his first eight seasons with New York and became a favorite target of Joe Namath

“The general approach of most teams defensively was to try to cover the tight end with a linebacker,” Caster recalled in an interview with the Jets website in 2018.

“And I could outrun most linebackers, or any linebacker I’ve ever encountered, really. But it was hardly a secret. “Okay, let’s see how this ties in, if it holds up.” It didn’t last.

“I ran away from most of the people I had the chance to get away from. It was about getting a good match.”

Caster made all three of his Pro Bowls with the Jets, with selections during the 1972, ’74 and ’75 seasons. His 4,434 yards receiving ranks 10th on the franchise’s career list with New York.

In Week 2 of the 1972 season, Caster caught three of Namath’s six touchdown passes and finished with six receptions for 204 yards in New York’s 44–34 win over Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts. Caster set career highs with 833 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns during that season. He had a personal best of 47 receptions in 1975.

Caster later played three years in Houston before splitting the 1981 season with New Orleans and Washington. He played in one game for the Washington team that won the Super Bowl to conclude the 1982 season.

“I’m most proud of being able to play for so long and playing 13 years in the league during a time when the career average was much less than 13 years,” Caster told the Jets website. “When I came in, I think it was somewhere around two, two and a half years. I was really proud of my ability to still have some talent where I could be traded and signed late in my career to add some value to some teams.”

Caster is survived by his wife, Susan; sons Richard J. Caster, Max Caster and Sean Caster; daughters Shannon Myla and Alona Nicole; and five grandchildren. Max is a professional wrestler signed to All Elite Wrestling.