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Aaron Stecker

{{Short description|American football player (born 1975)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Aaron Stecker

| image = Aaron Stecker.jpg

| caption = Stecker with the Buccaneers in 2003

| number = 27

| position = Running back

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|11|13}}

| birth_place = Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lbs = 213

| high_school = Ashwaubenon {{nowrap|(Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin)}}

| college = Western Illinois
Wisconsin

| undraftedyear = 1999

| pastteams =

| highlights =

| statlabel1 = Rushing attempts

| statvalue1 = 386

| statlabel2 = Rushing yards

| statvalue2 = 1,526

| statlabel3 = Receptions

| statvalue3 = 166

| statlabel4 = Receiving yards

| statvalue4 = 1,175

| statlabel5 = Return yards

| statvalue5 = 3,934

| statlabel6 = Total touchdowns

| statvalue6 = 12

}}

Aaron Stecker (born November 13, 1975) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Illinois Leathernecks and Wisconsin Badgers. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 1999.

Stecker also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Mainly used as a backup for most of his career, Stecker started 14 games during his five years with the Saints, and also often served as a kick returner for both Tampa Bay and New Orleans.

On April 20, 2010, Stecker announced that he was retiring from football,Tom Ziemer, [http://host.madison.com/sports/football/article_67e95cbe-490a-11df-8c4b-001cc4c03286.html "NFL: Stecker retires after 11-year run"], Madison.com, April 15, 2010. although later in 2010, he worked out for, but did not sign with, the Green Bay Packers.Greg Bedard, [http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/104915279.html "Packers' Jennings vents frustrations"], Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, October 13, 2010.

Early years

Stecker attended Ashwaubenon High School in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, and was a letterman in football and baseball. He led the Ashwaubenon football team to the state championship game in 1993. His number, 27, has been retired.

College career

Stecker began his college career at Wisconsin in 1995. He spent two years with the University of Wisconsin, recording three 100-yard games, a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown, and a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown. In 1997, he transferred to Western Illinois after the emergence of future Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne pushed Stecker from his starting role with the Badgers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/052300/Sports/Stecker_s_trek_may_en.shtml|title=Sports: Stecker's trek may end at NFL|website=www.sptimes.com|access-date=January 28, 2017}} During the 1997 season, Stecker recorded 2,293 rushing yards en route to winning the Gateway Football Conference player of the year award. Stecker finished his career at Western Illinois as the school's all-time leading rusher, with 3,799 yards in just two seasons. This record was broken by Travis Glasford in 2005, and is now held by Herb Donaldson, as of 2008.

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 5

| height in = 9 1/2

| weight = 210

| dash = 4.82

| ten split = 1.74

| twenty split = 2.83

| shuttle = 4.17

| cone drill = 7.00

| vertical = 32.5

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 5

| bench = 23

| arm span = 29 1/4

| hand span = 9 1/2

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1754&DraftYear=1999 |title=1999 Draft Scout Aaron Stecker, Western Illinois NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |access-date=March 20, 2023 |website=draftscout.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=5162 |title=Aaron Stecker, Combine Results, RB - Western Illinois |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=March 20, 2023}}

}}

= Chicago Bears =

Stecker spent the 1999 training camp with the Chicago Bears; however, he did not make the active roster.{{Cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/sports/football/nfl-stecker-retires-after--year-run/article_67e95cbe-490a-11df-8c4b-001cc4c03286.html|title=NFL: Stecker retires after 11-year run|author=Tom Ziemer|newspaper=madison.com|language=en|access-date=January 27, 2017}}

= Scottish Claymores =

Before the 2000 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers allocated Stecker to the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe. Stecker led the league in total scrimmage yards through the first two weeks in the season.{{Cite news|url=http://nfl.packers.com/news/releases/2000/04/04-27.html|title=Packers.com {{!}} Press Releases {{!}} April 27, 2000|access-date=January 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202033540/http://nfl.packers.com/news/releases/2000/04/04-27.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=dead}} He wound up garnering Offensive MVP honors.{{Cite web|url=http://www.esspeedee.com/claymores/claymores.php|title=About the Scottish Claymores / Team Records and History - Scottish Claymores|website=www.esspeedee.com|access-date=January 27, 2017}}

= Tampa Bay Buccaneers =

Early in his career in Tampa Bay, Stecker credits Fred McAfee for bolstering his confidence.{{Cite news|url=http://archive.jsonline.com/sports/92373494.html|title=Former Badger Aaron Stecker had long career despite being undrafted|language=en|access-date=January 27, 2017}} During the 2000 season, Stecker began returning kickoffs for the Bucs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/2401/aaron-stecker|title=Aaron Stecker|website=ESPN.com|access-date=January 27, 2017}} During his four years with the team, he became a core special teams player, along with sporadic duty as a pass-catching back.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/aaronstecker/2503119/careerstats|title=Aaron Stecker: Career Stats at NFL.com|website=www.nfl.com|language=en|access-date=January 27, 2017}} He also won Super Bowl XXXVII with the team before leaving after 2003.

= New Orleans Saints =

Signing with the New Orleans Saints before 2004, Stecker became a return man and scat back. Competing with established backs such as Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister led to sparse playing time.{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/nfl/id/2953049|title=Being on the bubble is old hat for Stecker|newspaper=ESPN.com|access-date=January 28, 2017}} He was placed on injured reserve during the 2008 season and did not return to the team the following year.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3712893|title=Hamstring lands Saints' Stecker on injured reserve|date=November 19, 2008|website=ESPN.com|access-date=January 27, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StecAa00.htm|title=Aaron Stecker Stats {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=January 27, 2017}}

= Atlanta Falcons =

Stecker was signed by the Atlanta Falcons in the middle the 2009 season, where he played mostly on special teams. He carried the ball five times and caught it five times as well.{{Cite web|url=http://football-players.pointafter.com/l/19666/Aaron-Stecker|title=Aaron Stecker|website=football-players.pointafter.com|language=en-us|access-date=January 28, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Packers also showed interest in Stecker in 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.totalpackers.com/2009/10/packers-tried-to-bring-in-aaron-stecker/|title=Packers Tried to Bring In Aaron Stecker|website=www.totalpackers.com|date=October 26, 2009 |language=en-US|access-date=January 28, 2017}}

= Retirement =

In April 2010, Stecker retired. He was tried out by the Green Bay Packers later that year but did not garner a contract offer.{{Cite news|url=http://archive.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/104825594.html|title=Stecker among players Packers bring in for tryout|language=en|access-date=January 28, 2017}}

NFL career statistics

class="wikitable"

! colspan="2" |Legend

Bold

|Career high

= Regular season =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! rowspan="2" |Year

! rowspan="2" |Team

! colspan="2" |Games

! colspan="5" |Rushing

! colspan="5" |Receiving

! colspan="2" |Fumbles

GP

!GS

!Att

!Yds

!Avg

!Lng

!TD

!Rec

!Yds

!Avg

!Lng

!TD

!Fum

!Lost

2000

!TB

|10

|0

|12

|31

|2.6

|14

|0

|1

|15

|15.0

|15

|0

|1

|1

2001

!TB

|13

|0

|24

|72

|3.0

|17

|1

|10

|101

|10.1

|35

|1

|0

|0

2002

!TB

|16

|1

|28

|174

|6.2

|59

|0

|13

|69

|5.3

|12

|0

|3

|2

2003

!TB

|16

|1

|37

|125

|3.4

|15

|0

|9

|48

|5.3

|14

|1

|1

|0

2004

!NO

|16

|3

|58

|244

|4.2

|42

|2

|29

|174

|6.0

|26

|0

|1

|1

2005

!NO

|15

|4

|95

|363

|3.8

|32

|0

|35

|281

|8.0

|41

|0

|3

|3

2006

!NO

|12

|1

|4

|11

|2.8

|4

|0

|19

|190

|10.0

|48

|0

|0

|0

2007

!NO

|16

|6

|115

|448

|3.9

|26

|5

|36

|211

|5.9

|26

|0

|1

|1

2008

!NO

|6

|0

|8

|43

|5.4

|12

|0

|9

|52

|5.8

|12

|1

|0

|0

2009

!ATL

|9

|0

|5

|15

|3.0

|6

|0

|5

|34

|6.8

|14

|0

|0

|0

colspan="2" |Career{{Cite web|title=NFL.com {{!}} Official Site of the National Football League|url=https://www.nfl.com/players/aaron-stecker/stats/career|access-date=February 13, 2022|website=NFL.com|language=en-US}}

!129

!16

!386

!1526

!4.0

!59

!8

!166

!1175

!7.1

!48

!3

!10

!8

= Postseason =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! rowspan="2" |Year

! rowspan="2" |Team

! colspan="2" |Games

! colspan="5" |Rushing

! colspan="5" |Receiving

! colspan="2" |Fumbles

GP

!GS

!Att

!Yds

!Avg

!Lng

!TD

!Rec

!Yds

!Avg

!Lng

!TD

!Fum

!Lost

2002

!TB

|3

|0

|4

|18

|4.5

|9

|0

|1

|3

|3.0

|3

|0

|0

|0

2006

!NO

|2

|0

|0

|0

|0.0

|0

|0

|0

|0

|0.0

|0

|0

|0

|0

colspan="2" |Career

!5

!0

!4

!18

!4.5

!9

!0

!1

!3

!3.0

!3

!0

!0

!0

Personal life

Stecker's wife Kara is the daughter of Diane Hendricks and the late Ken Hendricks, founder of ABC Supply.Krista Brown, [http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2007/12/29/news/news01.txt "Hendricks laid to rest"], Beloit Daily News, December 29, 2007. They have two children, daughter, Skylar, and son, Dorsett. Skylar is a singer: by age 12 she had sung the national anthem at Wisconsin Badgers,Doug Moe, [http://host.madison.com/news/local/columnists/doug-moe/doug-moe-skylar-stecker-s-triumphant-return/article_829982a1-2771-513b-ac65-a94b956ee00b.html "Skylar Stecker's triumphant return"], Wisconsin State Journal, November 8, 2013. New Orleans Saints,[http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/Former-Saints-running-back-Aaron-Steckers-daughter-to-perform-national-anthem-at-Fridays-game/9a81a403-4eed-44c4-bb20-bb6c478d1544 "Former Saints running back Aaron Stecker's daughter to perform national anthem at Friday's game"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211073441/http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/Former-Saints-running-back-Aaron-Steckers-daughter-to-perform-national-anthem-at-Fridays-game/9a81a403-4eed-44c4-bb20-bb6c478d1544 |date=February 11, 2015 }}, New Orleans Saints, August 8, 2013. UCLA, and Green Bay Packers games.

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Super Bowl XXXVII}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stecker, Aaron}}

Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:Players of American football from Green Bay, Wisconsin

Category:American football running backs

Category:Wisconsin Badgers football players

Category:Western Illinois Leathernecks football players

Category:Chicago Bears players

Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players

Category:Scottish Claymores players

Category:New Orleans Saints players

Category:Atlanta Falcons players

Category:People from Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin

Category:Sportspeople from Brown County, Wisconsin

Category:World Bowl MVPs