He played college football for the Sacramento State Hornets and was selected in the 10th round of the 1987 NFL draft.
As a senior, he was the only returning starter on an offensive line that helped post 400.5 yards per game and won the Western Football Conference title.
After the Raiders signed Max Montoya in Plan B free agency, Gesek became expendable and was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fifth round draft choice (#124-Ben Coates) on September 3, 1990.
The next game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was limited to only short yardage situations, but was able to recover for the rest of the season and the playoffs.
After trying Frank Cornish as the replacement at center, the team settled on Gesek for the playoffs run and Super Bowl XXVIII.
After fielding offers from several teams, including the Los Angeles Raiders and San Francisco 49ers, he signed a contract on March 16, 1994 as a free agent with the Washington Redskins, reuniting him with head coach Norv Turner, who was his offensive coordinator with the Cowboys.
He is married to Gina and has four grown children, daughters Presley, Audra, Payton and son Tanner, as well as granddaughter Evaliah.