Hank Ilesic
Edmonton Eskimos | |
1983–1989 | Toronto Argonauts |
---|---|
1989 | San Diego Chargers |
1990 | Los Angeles Rams* |
1990–1993 | Toronto Argonauts |
1994–1995 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
1998 | BC Lions |
2001 | Edmonton Eskimos |
2005 | Ottawa Renegades* |
Career highlights and awards | |
CFL All-Star | 1991, 1992 |
CFL East All-Star | 1991, 1992 |
CFL West All-Star | 1980, 1981 |
Career stats | |
Henry "Hank" Ilesic (born September 7, 1959, in Edmonton, Alberta) is a former all-star punter in the Canadian Football League. He also handled place kicking and kickoffs. He was twice an all-star punter and played in the CFL for 19 seasons.[1] He played on seven Grey Cup winning teams, and retired in 2001.[1] He remains third overall for Most Punting Yards, All-Time Regular Season.[2] He played one season in the National Football League.
Professional career
Ilesic, at 6 feet 1 inch and 210 pounds, went straight from
Ilesic also punted in 1989 for the NFL's San Diego Chargers, punting 76 times in 14 games for 3049 yards, averaging 40.1 yards a punt. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 1990,[3] but did not play.
Ilesic is the CFL's third all-time leading punter in yardage with 91,753 yards.[2] His 8,004 yards in 1986 is the second most for a season in league history.[2] He was on a CFL record seven Grey Cup-winning teams and is eighth all-time in CFL history for regular-season games played with 259. His 19 seasons played ranks his tied for fourth all-time. His is also fifth all-time for scoring single points in the regular season with 185, many coming on his exceptionally long kick-offs. In 2018 he was inducted into Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Unlike most modern-day placekickers, Ilesic kicked with the front of his toe (called kicking "straight-on") and not the side (called the "soccer-style").
References
- ^ a b c Brian Snelgrove (August 22, 2010). "Team Retro Profile: Edmonton Eskimos". Official Site of the Canadian Football League. Archived from the original on 30 April 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Regular Season All-Time Records". Official Site of the Canadian Football League. Archived from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
- ^ a b "RAMS Ilesic Gets His Foot in the Door in Competition for Punting Job". Los Angeles Times. May 25, 1990. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
- ^ "Grey Cup Roster: 25 YEARS LATER: 1983 GREY CUP". Official Home of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club. November 26, 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2011.