Richard C. Caster, born October 16, 1948 in Mobile, Alabama, passed away peacefully at a Long Island, New York hospital on Friday, February 2, 2024, following a valiant battle against Parkinson’s Disease. He was 75.

In a National Football League career that spanned 13 years, Richard Caster was the prototype modern day tight end – big, fast and excellent hands. A 1966 graduate of Williamson High School in Mobile, Caster attended Jackson State University in Mississippi, where he excelled on the gridiron and in the classroom, majoring in mathematics.

In 1970, the NY Jets selected him in the second round (as the 46th overall pick) of the NFL draft. The 6-foot, 5-inch rookie played his first two years as a wide receiver before moving to the tight end position. He made an immediate impact on the team, averaging more than 20 yards per reception in his first season.

Richard had a breakout season in 1972, with 39 receptions, 833 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. That year, Richard was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time. He also earned that honor after the 1974 and 1975 seasons. He had 10 games in which he had more than 100 yards in receptions and led the Jets in receiving yardage for three seasons -- in 1971, 1972 and 1975.

With 4,434 total receiving yards with the Jets, Richard still ranks among the all-time receiving yard leaders in team history. In fact, he caught what is thought to be the longest touchdown pass of Joe Namath’s career – a fourth quarter, 89 yard bomb against the Miami Dolphins during the 1974 season. Many fans remember him for a 1972 game against the Baltimore Colts, when Rich caught three of Namath’s six touchdown passes and finished with six receptions in New York’s 44-34 win over Johnny Unitas and the Colts.

During his Pro Football career, which included stints with the Houston Oilers and Washington Redskins, Richard caught 322 passes for 5,515 yards and 45 touchdowns in 162 games. He finished his career with the Washington Redskins Super Bowl XVII victory over the Miami Dolphins in 1983.  Since then, Caster has been inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame, the Jackson State University Sports Hall of Fame, and the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) Hall of Fame.

After football, Richard was hired by Rye Country Day and Greenwich Country Day Schools to improve their minority enrollment and serve as assistant coach for football and tennis. Later, he began a successful career in the construction management industry, starting with the Bechtel Corporation, where he worked at Kennedy Airport with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey on the JFK 2000 Project. More recently, he served as vice president of Bovis Lend Lease, the largest construction management company in the United States. After retiring from the construction field, the former All-Pro receiver stayed devoted to his community, and was actively involved in the United Way of New York City, the March of Dimes, the Town of Hempstead Anchor Program, the Long Island Head Injury Association, as well as Rebuilding Together – New York City.

In addition to football, Richard excelled at tennis, golf and ----harness-horse-racing! Super Bowl ring and Pro Bowls aside, Rich’s proudest athletic achievement was beating George Steinbrenner, George Plimpton, Leonard Marshall, and other sports celebrities in a 1986 harness horse race at The Meadowlands. When Richard received the invitation to this charity event, his competitive spirit led him to contact pals at Long Island’s now-demolished Roosevelt Raceway. For several months, Rich awoke at the crack of dawn, headed to the track, and took harness horses for practice runs while seated in the sulky. By race-time, Rich was handling the reins like a pro and held his horse back until the very end, while Steinbrenner was in the lead. Rich crept up on the Yankee boss, overtaking him in the final leg of the race. Richard enjoyed telling the story of Steinbrenner’s reaction!

Richard leaves behind his loving wife of 37 years, Susan McGowan Caster; two devoted daughters - Shannon Myla Hampton (Arthur) and Alona Nicole Caster; equally devoted sons Richard J. Caster (Natalia), Max Allen, and Sean; as well as five grandchildren – Tamiya, Camren, Alonzo, Richard, and Adrienne. He is lovingly remembered by five siblings, Harriette (Patrick) Ely, Ronald (Allyson) Caster, Stephanie Caster, Monica (Amos) Barnes, and Frederick (Zella) Caster, brother-in-law Tim McGowan (Cynthia), as well as sister-in-law Lillian Caster, and numerous nieces and nephews, including the devoted Carla, Demetrius and Sharmayne. He is also survived by former wife America Shannon Caster. Richard was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Allen and Rosa Lee (nee Bryant) Caster, adored grandmother Emma Bryant, and three cherished brothers, Allen Jr, Sherman, and Stephen.