Ranking all the Minnesota Vikings in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
By Adam Carlson
22. Dave Casper
- Position: Tight end
- Years with Vikings: 1983
- Years in the NFL: 1974-1984
- Other teams associated with: Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers, Los Angeles Raiders
- Enshrinement year: 2002
While he may not have been a member of the Vikings for very long, Dave Casper definitely has Minnesota blood running through his veins. Born in Bemidji, Minnesota, he played his high school football in Illinois and Wisconsin before committing to Notre Dame for college.
In college, he helped bring the Fighting Irish to a National Championship 1973 and being a Consensus All-American. His excellent play led to him being selected in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.
Casper played with the Raiders until 1980, when he shifted to the Houston Oilers until 1983. That is when the Vikings picked him up for 10 games. Afterward, he returned to the Oilers for the rest of the season before finishing his career with the Raiders.
Over the course of his 11-year career, he was an All-Pro five times and named to the Pro Bowl 5 times. He was a member of the Super Bowl XI winning Oakland Raiders, who defeated the Vikings in that game.