NFL CAREER – Stecker, a talented, versatile veteran who is stout between the tackles and has a sudden burst to get outside, proved again in 2007 that he is invaluable to the Saints’ fortunes. He stepped in when injuries weakened the running back position and became a force in the rushing attack. Named one of the club’s five season-long captains prior to the season for his traditionally excellent special teams play, Stecker posted career-highs with 448 yards rushing, five touchdowns and 36 receptions while starting six games. He added six kickoff returns for 137 yards. It wasn’t the first time he bolstered the backfield following an injury plague, as he also played a key role in 2005. Stecker was originally signed by the Saints in March of 2004 after a four-year stint with the Buccaneers, where he played in 55 contests and departed ranked first in team record books in kickoff return yards with 2,376. Typical of his grit and determination, Stecker took the road less traveled before becoming an established NFL veteran, playing for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe in 1999 and earning Offensive MVP honors.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by Saints to four-year contract (UFA), 4/4/04; Re-signed by Tampa Bay Buccaneers to one-year contract (RFA), 4/10/03; Re-signed to three-year contract by Tampa Bay, 1/25/00; Signed to Tampa Bay practice squad, 10/20/99; Released by Chicago Bears, 8/30/99; Signed by Chicago as undrafted free agent, 4/18/99.

HONORS – 2004: NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 15).

2007 – Played in all 16 contests, starting a career-high six games and recording career-best totals in rushing yards (448), attempts (115), touchdowns (5) and receptions (36)…Had 211 receiving yards, the second-highest total of his career (281, 2005)…Notched 40 first downs (29 rushing, 11 receiving)…Also returned six kickoff returns for 137 yards (22.8 avg.) with a long of 41 and added two special teams tackles on the season, with role on coverage units diminished as his backfield time increased…Made the most of a three-game stretch as primary running back (at Atlanta, Dec. 10-Dec. 23 vs. Philadelphia), rushing for 248 yards on 56 carries (4.4 avg.) with a pair of TDs and catching 12 passes for 84 yards in the span…Had 2 rushes for 21 yards and a pair of catches for 20 yards in opener at Indianapolis, Sept. 6…Recorded a season-long 41-yard kickoff return, vs. Tennessee, Sept. 24, part of a three-return, 79-yard effort (26.3 avg.) Added two catches for 14 yards…First start came vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 4, and responded with six carries for 24 yards, two catches for 11 yards and two kick returns for 36 yards…Started vs. St. Louis, Nov. 11, and posted three rushes for 26 yards – including a two-yard touchdown…Started at Carolina, Nov. 25, and recorded 13 carries for 42 yards…Hauled in four passes for 35 yards vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 2…After knee injury forced RB Reggie Bush to inactive list, Stecker entered starting lineup and rushed for 100 yards 20 carries – the second time he reached the milestone in his career – on 20 carries, including a 17-yard burst, at Atlanta, Dec. 10…Had 95 yards on 22 carries and a pair of TDs vs. Arizona and added four catches for 46 yards. In the contest had a 15-yard run and a 16-yard reception…Recorded 14 carries for 53 yards and three grabs for 31 yards – with a season-long 26-yard catch, vs. Philadelphia, Dec. 23. With two rushing touchdowns, became first Saints running back to back-back multi-TD games since Deuce McAllister achieved the feat in October, 2004. Suffered toe injury that caused him to play briefly at Chicago, Dec. 30. 2006 – Played in 12 games with one start, declared inactive for four with ankle and hamstring injuries (at Cleveland, Sept. 10, at Atlanta, Nov. 26, at Dallas, Dec. 10, vs. Carolina, Dec. 31)…Had 19 catches for 190 yards (10.0 avg.) and returned 10 kickoffs for 216 yards (21.6 avg.), with a long of 31…Started at Green Bay and had three receptions for 21 yards, three kick returns for 59 yards and a trio of tackles on special teams. The Saints opened with three running backs in the opening lineup: Stecker, Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, and Stecker had a 12-yard reception on first play…Recorded three catches for 15 yards and three kick returns for 67 yards at Carolina, Oct. 1…Oct. 15 vs. Philadelphia posted three carries for nine yards, a pair of receptions for 14 yards and a 31-yard kick return…At Pittsburgh, had three catches for a career-best 78 yards, including a career-long 48-yard grab…Added five catches for 53 yards the following week vs. Cincinnati…Majority of action for rest of season came on special teams. 2005 – Played in 15 games with four starts…Posted 363 rushing yards on 95 carries and 35 catches for a career-high 281 yards…Added 31 kick returns for 672 yards…Started at RB following RB Deuce McAllister’s season ending-knee injury vs. Atlanta, Oct. 16 and had 16 carries for 86 yards…Tied a career-high with six receptions for a career-best 72 yards at New England, Nov. 20…Had nine carries for 59 yards and tied a career-high with six catches for 42 yards vs. Carolina, Dec. 18. 2004 – Played in all 16 games in first season in New Orleans, with three starts…Ranked second on team with 244 yards on 58 carries and rushed for two touchdowns… Added 29 receptions for 174 yards…On special teams, had 10 tackles (seven solo) and 18 kickoff returns for 469 yards, including a 98-yard TD. His 26.1 average led the Saints…Started at St. Louis, Sept. 26, and had a career-high 106 yards on 18 carries, including a 42-yard touchdown, and hauled in four passes for 20 yards. It was the first 100-yard performance of his NFL career…Started at Arizona and tied his career-high with six receptions for 71 yards, including a 26-yard burst… Took back eight kickoffs vs. Carolina, Dec. 5, for 214 yards, including a 45-yard return. Returns and yardage totals were career-highs…Turned in a top performance against his former team with three catches for 26 yards and a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown – the first of his career – at Tampa Bay, Dec. 19. Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. 2003 – Played in all 16 games with a start for Tampa Bay…Totaled 37 carries for 125 yards and nine receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown…Led team with 25 kick returns for 520 yards, with a long of 44…Majority of action came as reserve on offense and on kick return team…Posted 13 special teams tackles. 2002 – Played in all 16 regular season games with a start...Also played in all three playoff contests...Had 28 rushes for 174 yards (6.2-average) with a long of 59...Also caught 13 passes for 69 yards... Recorded 37 kickoff returns for 934 yards (25.2 avg.) and a long of 67, finishing fifth in the NFC and eighth in the NFL…Ranked third on the team with 19 special teams tackles...Three kickoff returns for 67 yards, with a long of 27, vs. Oakland (1/26/03) in Super Bowl XXXVII. 2001 – Saw action in 13 games… Had 24 carries for 72 yards with a TD and 10 receptions for 101 yards (10.1 avg.) with another touchdown...Also returned nine kickoffs for 259 yards (28.8 avg.) with a long of 86 vs. New Orleans, Dec. 23. 2000 – Appeared in 10 games, recording 12 carries for 31 yards and adding a reception for 15 yards... Was club’s top kickoff returner with 29 returns for 663 yards (22.9 avg.)...Was the Offensive MVP of NFL Europe in 1999 for the Scottish Claymores. 1999 – Went to training camp with Chicago Bears and spent season on the Buccaneers practice squad.

COLLEGE – In two seasons, departed as Western Illinois’ all-time leading rusher with 3,799 yards and 41 TDs...Transferred to Western Illinois after two seasons at Wisconsin...Paced Leathernecks with 1,124 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns as a senior...Record-breaking junior season included leading Division I-AA in scoring with 150 points, the fourth-highest total in Division I-AA history...Finished first in the nation with 1,957 rushing yards and named Gateway Conference Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year...Placed second in Walter Payton Award balloting, given to Division I-AA’s most outstanding player...Established 23 WIU records and seven Gateway Conference records as a junior...Majored in law enforcement.

PERSONAL – Married to Kara, with a daughter, Skylar...Lettered four years in football and baseball at Ashwaubenon (Green Bay, Wis.) HS...Rushed for 2,157 yards and 37 touchdowns as a senior and named Wisconsin Player of the Year by the Associated Press and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel as a senior...Born 11/13/75 in Green Bay, Wis.