Dave Casper

David John Casper, born February 2, 1952, earned the nickname "the Ghost" as a tight end in the NFL, spending most of his career with the Oakland Raiders. He is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame (inducted 2012) and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted 2002).

Casper began high school at St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin, Illinois, playing there for three years. He finished his senior season at Chilton High School in Chilton, Wisconsin, about 35 miles south of Green Bay. In 1969, his Chilton team outscored opponents 363–0 over eight games, earning a state ranking of eighth despite being a small-town school without a playoff system.

At the University of Notre Dame, Casper played college football as a tackle, earning Honorable Mention All-America in 1972. The following year, he was an All-American and a key part of the 1973 National Championship team. As a tight end, he was named Notre Dame's Offensive MVP for 1973, finishing his college career with 21 receptions for 335 yards and four touchdowns. He graduated in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in economics and served as captain of the Omicron Delta Epsilon honor society.

The Oakland Raiders selected Casper with the 45th overall pick in the second round of the 1974 NFL draft. He caught only nine passes in his first two seasons but broke out during the Raiders' 1976 championship year, hauling in 53 catches for 691 yards and 10 touchdowns, making him a top-ten receiver that season.

One of Casper's most famous games was the 1977 Divisional Playoff against the Baltimore Colts. He made an over-the-head grab of a soft pass from Ken Stabler on a play known as "The Ghost to the Post." That 42-yard reception set up a game-tying field goal, forcing overtime. Casper then caught a 10-yard touchdown in the second overtime, giving the Raiders a 37–31 win. He finished with four catches for 70 yards and three touchdowns.

Another legendary moment came on September 10, 1978, against the San Diego Chargers. With ten seconds left and the Raiders trailing 20–14, quarterback Ken Stabler, about to be sacked, dropped the ball and flicked it toward the goal line. Running back Pete Banaszak recovered it at the San Diego 12-yard line but dropped it again, and the ball rolled forward. Casper kicked the ball at the 5-yard line and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point gave Oakland a 21–20 win. Stabler, Banaszak, and Casper all admitted they deliberately fumbled or batted the ball forward. The Chargers protested, arguing Stabler's fumble was actually a forward pass. The NFL later changed the rules to prohibit a teammate from advancing a fumble on fourth down or in the final two minutes of a game.

Casper caught the first touchdown of Super Bowl XI, a 32–14 Raiders victory over the Minnesota Vikings. As a Raider, he made four straight Pro Bowls from 1976 to 1979. Along with his three touchdown catches in the "Ghost to the Post" game, he added two more touchdowns in the 1977 AFC Championship Game. His five postseason touchdowns remain an NFL record for tight ends.

Midway through the 1980 season, the Raiders traded Casper to the Houston Oilers for first- and second-round draft picks, reuniting him with former quarterback Ken Stabler. He finished that season with 56 receptions and earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection. The trade meant he missed the Raiders' Super Bowl run that year, which included a playoff win over Houston. After the third week of the 1983 season, Casper and quarterback Archie Manning were traded to the Minnesota Vikings. He returned to the Raiders for his final NFL season in 1984, one year after they won another Super Bowl.

Casper ended his pro career with 378 receptions, 5,216 yards, and 52 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002, becoming the 13th Raider to receive that honor.

Today, Casper works for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, assisting business owners with financial planning and consultation. He has worked in Walnut Creek, California, and now in Vernon Hills, Illinois.