Steve Tasker
Encyclopedia
Steven Jay Tasker is a broadcaster for CBS Sports
, who previously was a wide receiver
/gunner
in the National Football League
. He was drafted
in the ninth round (226th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft
by the Houston Oilers. He played college football
at Northwestern
. He began his college career at Dodge City Community College
.
Tasker played most of his pro career with the Buffalo Bills
, and was voted by Bills fans to the teams 50th season
All-time Team.
where he played the final two years of his college career before joining the National Football League
. After finishing his college football career, and before being drafted into the NFL, he joined the school's rugby team. Although he had never played rugby before, he was named most valuable player at the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
by the Houston Oilers where he played for two seasons. He was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills on November 8, 1986.
Tasker was officially listed as a wide receiver, however, most of his playing time came at gunner, on punts and kickoffs
. However, after he joined the Buffalo Bills, he began to play at wide receiver more than with the Oilers.
s. 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. 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.
Tasker played in seven Pro Bowl
s (1987
and 1990
-1995
) as a special teamer and was named the game's MVP
in 1993
.
Many, including former teammate and Hall of Fame
quarterback
Jim Kelly
, consider him to be the greatest special teams player of all-time and believe that he should be in the Hall of Fame. He was even ranked #9 on the NFL Network
's NFL Top 10
Players Not in the Hall of Fame.
football telecasts as well as play-by-play for the local broadcasts of Bills
pre-season games, working alongside his former coach, Marv Levy
, who also did color commentary until becoming the General Manager
of the Bills in 2006. In 2007, Ray Bentley
took over Levy's place as play-by-play announcer while Tasker provided color commentary. Tasker is also the spokesperson for the West Herr Auto Group
.
became
On September 9, 2007, Tasker the 24th person inducted to the Bills Wall of Fame.
On November 22, 2011, Tasker was named one of the semifinalists in balloting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in Canton, Ohio
.
sportscaster
Chris Berman gave Tasker one of his famous nicknames: Steve "A Tisker a" Tasker. Tasker was ejected from his final NFL game, a loss to the Green Bay Packers in 1997, for bumping a referee.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, who previously was a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
/gunner
Gunner (American football)
In American football, a gunner, also known as a shooter or kamikaze, is a player on kickoffs and punts who specializes in running down the sideline very quickly in an attempt to tackle the kick returner or the punt returner...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the ninth round (226th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft
1985 NFL Draft
The 1985 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 30 and May 1, 1985...
by the Houston Oilers. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
. He began his college career at Dodge City Community College
Dodge City Community College
Dodge City Community College is located on the Central High Plains in Ford County, southwest Kansas.-Campus:For 22 years, the College was located on the third floor of the Senior High School Building at 1601 First Avenue. By 1957, it had grown large enough to require a move to a different...
.
Tasker played most of his pro career with the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and was voted by Bills fans to the teams 50th season
2009 Buffalo Bills season
The 2009 Buffalo Bills season was the 50th Professional Football season for the original American Football League team, and its 40th in the NFL...
All-time Team.
College career
Tasker first attended Dodge City Community College. After two years, he transferred to Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
where he played the final two years of his college career before joining the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. After finishing his college football career, and before being drafted into the NFL, he joined the school's rugby team. Although he had never played rugby before, he was named most valuable player at the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
Professional career
Tasker was selected in the ninth round (226th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft1985 NFL Draft
The 1985 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 30 and May 1, 1985...
by the Houston Oilers where he played for two seasons. He was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills on November 8, 1986.
Tasker was officially listed as a wide receiver, however, most of his playing time came at gunner, on punts and kickoffs
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
. However, after he joined the Buffalo Bills, he began to play at wide receiver more than with the Oilers.
Play as gunner
Tasker stands just 5 in 9 in (1.75 m) tall and weighed 183 lbs., however, despite his lack of size, he gained a reputation as one of the league's most feared hitters, forcing numerous fumbleFumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
s. 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. 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.
Tasker played in seven Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s (1987
1988 Pro Bowl
The 1988 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 7, 1988 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was AFC 15, NFC 6. Bruce Smith of the Buffalo Bills was the game's MVP. The referee was Dick Hantak....
and 1990
1991 Pro Bowl
The 1991 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 3, 1991 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was AFC 23, NFC 21. There were 50,345 people in attendance. Jim Kelly of the Buffalo Bills was the game's MVP. The referee was Gordon McCarter....
-1995
1996 Pro Bowl
The 1996 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 4, 1996 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was NFC 20, AFC 13. Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers was the game's MVP after he had 2 clutch catches, including the final one which won the game. He finished with six catches for 82...
) as a special teamer and was named the game's MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in 1993
1993 Pro Bowl
The 1993 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 7, 1993 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. The final score was AFC — 23, NFC — 20. Steve Tasker of the Buffalo Bills was the game's MVP. This was the first Pro Bowl to go into overtime...
.
Many, including former teammate and Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly
James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the USFL's Houston Gamblers....
, consider him to be the greatest special teams player of all-time and believe that he should be in the Hall of Fame. He was even ranked #9 on the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
's NFL Top 10
NFL Top 10
NFL Top 10 is a documentary program produced by NFL Films for airing on the NFL Network. The host and narrator is Derrin Horton.The program counts down 10 items directly related to the players, coaches, and events of the National Football League, with former players, NFL Network personalities, and...
Players Not in the Hall of Fame.
After football
Tasker is currently a color commentator for CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
football telecasts as well as play-by-play for the local broadcasts of Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
pre-season games, working alongside his former coach, Marv Levy
Marv Levy
Marvin Daniel Levy is a former American and Canadian football coach, front office executive and author.He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills...
, who also did color commentary until becoming the General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Bills in 2006. In 2007, Ray Bentley
Ray Bentley
Ray Russell Bentley is a former professional American football linebacker.-Playing career:...
took over Levy's place as play-by-play announcer while Tasker provided color commentary. Tasker is also the spokesperson for the West Herr Auto Group
West Herr Auto Group
The West Herr Auto Group is a group of car dealerships in the Buffalo, New York area. The group was started by Joseph Herr Jr. and Harold West in 1950 as a single location in Hamburg, NY. West Herr now has 14 locations in the Western New York. Scott Bieler is the current president...
.
became
On September 9, 2007, Tasker the 24th person inducted to the Bills Wall of Fame.
On November 22, 2011, Tasker was named one of the semifinalists in balloting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Trivia
ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
Chris Berman gave Tasker one of his famous nicknames: Steve "A Tisker a" Tasker. Tasker was ejected from his final NFL game, a loss to the Green Bay Packers in 1997, for bumping a referee.