Should Steve Tasker be in the Hall of Fame?

[Irv]

I thought he was a HOF'er but then heard him on TV and radio. 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

I think ‘specialists’ are appropriately devalued, otherwise where does it end. 
 

Greatest Long snapper of all time?

 

he was a oddly great gunner, and a very forgettable WR.  But he wasn’t a transcendent leader or media personality as a player. 
 

As an overall football player, he wasn’t an all time great. 
 

I just don’t see anyone outside of Bills fans making or buying an argument for his induction. 
 

plus the induction process is pretty democratic so... yeah his current status It what is ‘should be’.

 

to paraphrase you are what the voters say you are. 

Edited June 24, 2020 by Over 29 years of fanhood

[RyanC883]

17 hours ago, Putin said:

He was the Best at what he did so you got my answer 

 

this.   if you let any special teams player in, then Tasker belongs in it.  

[Alaska Darin]

Tasker belongs in the Hall.  Additionally, if he played in this era he'd be every bit as good as Wes Welker or Julian Edelman at wide receiver.  No one could cover that dude.

[BigdaddyinOrlando]

Yes and zero questions or doubts about it! 
He was a force on special teams and dominated his position like no other. I saw a stat from a previous poster that he won 9 games with his play, but he affected so many more by teams fair catching and designed returns away from him. If you game plan for a player over and over on special teams like him , then yes you effect the game for your team ! He was the best I ever saw and still is today! I hope he makes it so he and all of his teammates and us fans can celebrate and it’s not something that takes longer than necessary 

[Success]

10 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

Yes.  He revolutionized the importance of special teams.

 

Agreed.  And he also reinvented that role.

 

To win a SB, they always say you have to have all 3 phases.  Why do defensive and offensive players get all the recognition, but that vital 3rd phase is left out in the cold?

 

Absolutely Tasker should be in the HOF.

 

[first_and_ten]

19 hours ago, JetsFan20 said:

What are your thoughts? You can certainly make an argument for him, but I think it’s hard to include him. That era in Bills football already has a ton of HOF representation. 

 

Just because an era has a ton of representation is not a reason on it's own to rule him out. He was the best at his position for a long time. Is special teams an integral part of winning and losing? Yes.So I say he does belong in the HOF. IMHO

[JetsFan20]

These takes are interesting:

 

What will hurt Tasker moving forward is that special teams is being de-emphasized in today’s NFL. I disagree with Matthew Slater as a HOF player for that reason. 
 

Here is a question:

 

If Tasker wasn’t on those great Bills teams would anyone consider him a HOFer? 

 

 

[Let's Go Buffalo]

Tasker shined on the biggest stage at the highest level year after year, and dominated many pros who are already in the Hall of Fame. Also, when some of those same Hall of Famers have said that Steve deserves to be in, then that's good enough for me.

[TigerJ]

I think he belongs.  If he gets in, I can say I had dinner with a Hall of Famer.

[Buftex]

You know, I get the impression that most who say he does not belong, are probably too young to have really seen him play. Their commentary is usually just snarky, and without substance...we all know he isn't the greatest broadcaster, but that seems to cloud the opinion as to whether he belongs in the HOF.  Turn on an NFL football broadcast any Sunday during the season, and you will be listening to the analysis of once great players, who are terrible broadcasters.  Broadcasting quality is irrelevant.  When Tasker was playing, he wasn't just a Bills "fan favorite", he was highly known and regarded across the league, even to casual fans.  

 

[Bob in STL]

Think about it more.  How many great special teams players could cover punts and kickoffs, return punts and kickoffs, block punts, and recover on sides kicks.  He was exceptional and should be recognized for it.  He was a great slot receiver as well.  He would have helped in SB XXV as a receiver (Beebe was out) but they didn’t know what they had yet.  

[BruceVilanch]

Loved watching him play, absolutely deserves to be in.

[Bill from NYC]

On 6/24/2020 at 3:03 AM, Peace Frog said:

I would but not before some other STers on this list.  (Note: this list is not updated.)  https://www.stadiumtalk.com/s/best-special-teams-players-nfl-history-c8f50eef62574034

I'm surprised that Mark Pike was not on that list, seriously. Blocking Pike was like standing in front of a freight train.

[SMAKCruiser]

7 hours ago, Bob in STL said:

Think about it more.  How many great special teams players could cover punts and kickoffs, return punts and kickoffs, block punts, and recover on sides kicks.  He was exceptional and should be recognized for it.  He was a great slot receiver as well.  He would have helped in SB XXV as a receiver (Beebe was out) but they didn’t know what they had yet.  

I don't ever recall Tasker being an impressive kick off/punt return specialist except for a fluky play against the Raiders in the playoffs.   I hardly remember him returning kicks or punts at all...

[Bob in STL]

16 hours ago, SMAKCruiser said:

I don't ever recall Tasker being an impressive kick off/punt return specialist except for a fluky play against the Raiders in the playoffs.   I hardly remember him returning kicks or punts at all...

Mostly known for kick coverage.  He returned 44 kickoffs, mostly in his early career, and he returned 32 punts in the last few years of his career.  My point is that on special teams he did whatever was needed.  

Edited June 26, 2020 by Bob in STL

[TigerJ]

Yeah, he was a world class gunner.  Unblockable as a gunner.

[ComradeKayAdams]

Of the 346 Hall of Fame members, only 4 have made it in primarily for their special teams play: Lou Groza, Jan Stenerud, Morten Anderson, and Ray Guy. 3 kickers and 1 punter. No returners and no gunners. There are 26 head coaches and 26 contributors who were elected not for their play on the field. Is it then reasonable to so willfully exclude special teamers from Hall of Fame conversations? Excluding all of those players who regularly made significant impacts on the outcomes of every game played?

 

Steve Tasker was the greatest gunner in NFL history. He singlehandedly decided multiple important games and heavily influenced many more on one of the best dynasties the AFC/AFL had ever seen. It doesn’t even matter if the NFL were to completely ban special teams beginning today. You can’t tell the full story of the professional game without including the absolute greatest of the great talents on what was at least once considered a full third of the game. I assume the HOF Seniors Committee will rectify this sorry mistake soon enough.

 

By the way, I don’t understand all the passionate hate here for broadcasters like Tasker (or Beth Mowins for that matter, whose uniquely husky voice I find quite appropriate for the medium)?? Focus on the game, people!

[Frez]

On 6/24/2020 at 12:38 AM, JetsFan20 said:

What are your thoughts? You can certainly make an argument for him, but I think it’s hard to include him. That era in Bills football already has a ton of HOF representation. 

Yes, the guy was amazing. 
 

It’s a shame Marv Levy didn’t play him at WR in his younger years. Steve was a fearless amazing athlete. 

[BillsPride12]

Yes for me.  I've always called Tasker the Michael Jordan of special teams

 

Bill Parcells once said back in the Super Bowl days they had to spend more time game planning for Tasker than Andre, Thurman or Jim whenever they played the Bills.