James Byron Casey is a former American football tight end and fullback who is the tight ends coach for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft and has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rice University and played baseball and football at Azle High School.

The Rice Owls football program represents Rice University in the sport of American football. The team competes at the NCAA Division I FBS level and compete in the American Athletic Conference. Rice Stadium, built in 1950, hosts the Owls' home football games. Rice has the second-smallest undergraduate enrollment of any FBS member, ahead of only Tulsa.