Hank Ilesic

Hank Ilesic
Ilesic in 2023
Born: (1959-09-07) September 7, 1959
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)Punter, Placekicker
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight210 lb (95 kg)
High schoolSt. Joseph
Career history
As player
1977–1982Edmonton Eskimos
1983–1989Toronto Argonauts
1989San Diego Chargers
1990Los Angeles Rams*
1990–1993Toronto Argonauts
1994–1995Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1998BC Lions
2001Edmonton Eskimos
2005Ottawa Renegades*
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star1991, 1992
CFL East All-Star1991, 1992
CFL West All-Star1980, 1981
Career stats

Henry Ilesic (born September 7, 1959) is a former all-star punter in the Canadian Football League (CFL). 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 St. Joseph's High School to the CFL, starring with his hometown Edmonton Eskimos at age 17 in 1977.[1][3] At St. Joseph, he was a football teammate of fellow Hall of Fame inductee Paul Graham.[4]

Ilesic's punting was an essential part of the Eskimos' record-setting five Grey Cup dynasty. He kicked for Edmonton until joining the Toronto Argonauts in 1983, where he won another Grey Cup.[5] He won the record for most punting yards in the regular season in 1986.[2] He remained there until 1993, then played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats until 1995. Ilesic came out of retirement to punt for the B.C. Lions in 1998, playing only three games. Ilesic signed with the Eskimos again in 2001 and to the Ottawa Renegades practice squad in 2005, but did not play in any games in either stint.

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

  1. ^ 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 April 30, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d "Regular Season All-Time Records". Official Site of the Canadian Football League. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "RAMS Ilesic Gets His Foot in the Door in Competition for Punting Job". Los Angeles Times. May 25, 1990. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  4. ^ Jones, Terry (November 20, 2018). "Man Behind Curtain Steps Into Spotlight". Edmonton Journal. p. B1.
  5. ^ "Grey Cup Roster: 25 YEARS LATER: 1983 GREY CUP". Official Home of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club. November 26, 2008. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
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