![]() ![]() Tasker played in seven Pro Bowls ( 19– 1995) and became the only special teamer ever to be named the game's MVP in 1993. He was the first player to establish himself as a star almost exclusively through special teams play without being either a kicker or a returner. Contributing to his success in breaking up kick and punt returns was his speed he was almost always the first player to reach the return man. Despite his small size, he gained a reputation as one of the league's most feared hitters, forcing numerous fumbles. Tasker recalled, "I told him not to worry because I was mistaken for a ball boy all the time". Tasker stood 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg) when he joined the Bills, Jim Haslett did not think that he was a player. He also caught 5 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in Buffalo's 1995 playoff win against the Miami Dolphins. In a 1994 playoff game against the Los Angeles Raiders, he set up the Bills first touchdown with a 67-yard kickoff return. Still, Tasker did make contributions at the more traditional role on offense and special teams. While he performed very well as a receiver when Buffalo needed his services there, the combination of excellent Bills depth at that position, his value as a special teams playmaker, and Tasker refusing to demand more playing time on offense kept his WR time very slight. After he joined the Buffalo Bills, he began to play at wide receiver more than with the Oilers. Tasker was listed as a wide receiver, however, most of his playing time came as a gunner, on punts and kickoffs. ![]() He was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills on November 8, 1986. ![]() Tasker was selected in the ninth round (226th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers where he played for two seasons. Tasker continues to hold the Northwestern Wildcats football career record for kickoff return average (24.3). Although he had never played rugby before, he was named most valuable player at the Big Ten Conference Tournament. After finishing his college football career, and before being drafted into the NFL, he joined the school's rugby team. Tasker finished his college career with 1,055 combined return yards from punts and kickoffs, averaging 10.8 yards per punt return. After two years, he transferred to Northwestern University where he played the final two years of his college career before joining the National Football League. Tasker first attended Dodge City Community College. He has several times been a nominee for the Hall, making the semi-finalist list eight times, but has not been selected as a member as of 2023. In 2008, the NFL Network show NFL Top 10 ranked Tasker the ninth best former player not enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After retiring from playing, he has worked as a reporter, currently serving locally in Western New York on the MSG Western New York cable TV station, and on WGR Radio and formerly for CBS Sports. Tasker played most of his pro career with Buffalo, and was voted by Bills fans to the team's 50th season All-time Team. He was selected in the ninth round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Oilers. Tasker played college football at Dodge City Community College before playing for the Northwestern Wildcats. He was a five-time first-team All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection as a special teams player. He spent the majority of his career with the Buffalo Bills but began his career with the Houston Oilers. Steven Jay Tasker (born April 10, 1962) is a sports reporter and former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). © 2023 The Buffalo Bills.American football player Steve Tasker No. ![]()
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