A talented football player for the New York Jets and three-time Pro Bowler, died on February 2, 2024, at the age of 75, following a protracted fight with Parkinson’s disease. Born in Mobile, Alabama, Caster played both tight end and receiver at Jackson State University, where he recorded 160 receptions for 3,638 yards and 28 touchdowns. The Jets selected Caster in the second round of the 1970 NFL Draft. He had an immediate effect; in his second game, he started at wide receiver and led the squad to its first victory of the year. Caster developed into a vital member of the Jets’ offense over the course of the following eight seasons, with 245 receptions, 4,434 yards, and 36 touchdowns.
He averaged a remarkable 18.1 yards per reception as he caught passes from future Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath. With opponents trying to cover him with linebackers, Caster moved to tight end in 1972. He responded by scoring a career-high 10 touchdowns and averaging 21.4 yards per reception. Three Pro Bowl selections (1972, 1974, and 1975) and a 10th-place receiving yard total and seventh-place touchdown reception total (36), respectively, are among Caster’s many accomplishments during his time with the Jets. With 322 receptions, 5,515 yards, and 45 touchdowns in his career, Caster played for the Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Redskins after leaving the Jets.
Caster was interested in the Bronx Boys Club, the New York Urban League, and the March of Dimes Walkathon in addition to his involvement in sports outside of the field. He also served as a board member for the Head Injury Association of Long Island and the Joe Namath Foundation. Sean, Max, and Richard J. Caster, along with his three sons, Max and Shannon Myla, and his wife Susan, survive him. Thursday, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Friday, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Caster will be available for visitation at the Fairchild Funeral Home in Garden City, New York. At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, there will be a prayer service.
