Bert Askson, the versatile former tight end whose perseverance and special teams contributions left a lasting mark during his three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, died July 24 in Houston. He was 80.
Askson’s longest and most meaningful stretch in the NFL came after the Packers signed him as a free agent in May 1975, reuniting him with assistant coach Lew Carpenter. The two had first connected in Houston, where Carpenter shifted the former defensive end to tight end and opened a new chapter in Askson’s career.
Born Dec. 16, 1945, in Houston, Askson built his foundation at Texas Southern University. There he started for four seasons at defensive end, earned senior co-captain honors and pursued a degree in business administration. His blend of size and speed quickly drew attention from professional scouts.
The Packers’ 1977 media guide later highlighted that speed, listing Askson among the fastest tight ends in the game with a reported 4.6-second 40-yard dash. Those physical tools helped him carve out a reliable role in Green Bay even as he backed up starter Rich McGeorge.
Before arriving in Wisconsin, Askson’s path wound through several stops. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose him in the 14th round of the 1970 NFL Draft, the same class that produced future Super Bowl champion quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Injuries limited his early chances at linebacker, yet he still appeared in 11 games for Pittsburgh in 1971 as a reserve defensive end and special teams player.
A season with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League followed in 1972. Askson returned to the NFL in 1973, briefly joining the Houston Oilers and then the New Orleans Saints, where he saw action in one game. It was during his Oilers stint that Carpenter’s position switch from defensive end to tight end began reshaping his professional identity.
That conversion paid dividends once Carpenter joined the Packers’ staff and Green Bay brought Askson aboard. In Green Bay he became a valuable special teams contributor while providing depth at tight end. Packers coaches credited him with helping the team lead the NFL in punt coverage during the 1976 season, a year in which he recorded three solo tackles in that phase alone.
Although Askson finished his NFL career with just one reception, that single catch produced a memorable moment for Packers fans. On Oct. 3, 1976, he hauled in a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lynn Dickey against the Detroit Lions. The score stood as the decisive touchdown in a 24-14 victory that delivered Green Bay its first win of the season and the only touchdown of Askson’s NFL career.
Overall, Askson appeared in 43 NFL games across stints with the Steelers, Saints and Packers from 1971 through 1977. He also spent the 1974 season with the New York Stars and Charlotte Hornets of the World Football League before settling into his longest professional home in Green Bay.
After hanging up his cleats, Askson returned to his hometown and worked for the Port of Houston. Friends and former teammates remembered him as a player who maximized limited opportunities through versatility and steady effort, particularly during his productive years in the green and gold.
Packers historians note that Askson’s contributions, though often under the radar, exemplified the blue-collar approach that defined many successful Green Bay teams of the mid-1970s. His ability to transition positions, excel on coverage units and deliver in a critical scoring moment underscored a career built on resilience.
Askson’s journey from Houston high school fields through Texas Southern, multiple professional leagues and finally to Lambeau Field remains a testament to determination. In Green Bay he found the stability and role that allowed his talents to shine brightest before he stepped away from the game.
Survivors and details of services were not immediately available. The Packers organization and former teammates are expected to remember Askson for the quiet reliability he brought to the roster during his three seasons in Wisconsin.
