1. Richard Jose Casares was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League and American Football League for twelve seasons during the 1950s and 1960s.
16 Facts About Rick Casares
1. 2.
Rick Casares played college football for the University of Florida, where he was standout fullback and kicker.
3.
Rick Casares played professionally for the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins of the NFL, and was a member of the expansion Miami Dolphins of the AFL.
4.
At 15, Rick Casares became a Golden Gloves boxing champion in the 160-pound division.
5.
Rick Casares played high school football, basketball, and baseball for the Jefferson Dragons, and he was a track and field athlete.
6.
Rick Casares was an all-state football and basketball player, and the Dragons won the city football championship in 1948 and 1949.
7.
Rick Casares quickly became the star rusher of the Gators' backfield.
8.
Rick Casares was selected in the second round of the 1954 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, but was offered a $20,000 annual contract with Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts.
9.
Rick Casares finished his rookie season with 672 yards in 12 games, and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl.
10.
In 1956, Rick Casares led the NFL in rushing with 235 carries for 1,126 yards.
11.
Behind Rick Casares' hard-nosed rushing, the Bears advanced to the 1956 NFL Championship Game.
12.
Rick Casares was questioned in 1962 by NFL investigators as part of a spreading inquiry that included the FBI into links between league players and organized crime.
13.
Rick Casares, who had been seen with a bookie and was known to visit with other Bears players two nightclubs connected to the Chicago mob, said he had been questioned about point shaving for gamblers and had taken and passed two lie detector tests.
14.
Rick Casares finished his professional career with the NFL's Washington Redskins in 1965, and in 1966 with the AFL's Miami Dolphins, receiving only limited carries in his final two seasons.
15.
Rick Casares retired to his hometown of Tampa, Florida following his professional football career and some business projects in Chicago.
16.
Rick Casares died on September 13,2013, at the age of 82, after a string of illnesses, including heart disease and shoulder problems stemming from his days in football.