Every former Notre Dame football player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
By Joey Loose
Dave Casper
After growing up in the Midwest, Dave Casper became an All-American tight end at Notre Dame in the early 1970s after playing offensive tackle earlier in his career. He was voted the Fighting Irish’s offensive MVP during their 1973 national championship season.
Casper was drafted in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and would play parts of eight of his eleven pro seasons with that franchise, also spending time with the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings.
Nicknamed “the Ghost”, Casper put up impressive numbers for a tight end back then, earning four consecutive First-Team All-Pro nods in the late 70s with the Raiders. He would average over 700 receiving yards in those four seasons and was voted into 5 Pro Bowls.
Most importantly, Casper played in and caught a touchdown during the Raiders’ Super Bowl XI victory over the Minnesota Vikings. His contributions were limited late in his career with those other teams, though he returned to the Raiders in 1984, his final season.
Casper had to wait until 2002 for his invitation to the Hall of Fame, but it was worth the wait for one of the best tight ends and pass catchers of the late 70s. He won a national championship and a Super Bowl and secured his place in football history.