Career
He also handled place kicking and kickoffs. He was twice an all-star punter and played for the Canadian Football League for 19 seasons. He remains third overall for Most Punting Yards, All-Time Regular Season.
He played one season in the National Football League.
Ilesic, at 6 feet 1 inch and 210 pounds, went straight from Saint Joseph"s High School to the Canadian Football League, starring with his hometown Edmonton Eskimos at age 17 in 1977. He remained there until 1993, then played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats until 1995.
Ilesic came out of retirement to punt for the British Columbia 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.
Ilesic also punted in 1989 for the San Diego Chargers, punting 76 times in 14 games for 3049 yards, averaging 40.1.
He signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 1990, but did not play. Ilesic is the Canadian Football League"s third all-time leading punter in yardage with 91,753 yards. His 8,004 yards in 1986 is the second most for a season in league history.
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. Unlike most modern-day placekickers, Ilesic kicked with the front of his toe and not the side.