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Gary Larsen
Gary Larsen
Gary Larsen
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Gary Larsen (born March 13, 1940) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL).

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Larsen was born on March 13, 1940, in Fargo, North Dakota, to Alton and Ethel Larsen.[1][2][3][4] He grew up on a wheat farm near Moorhead and Sabin in northern Minnesota.[5][4] His father died in a farm accident when Larsen was in junior high school.[4] He attended MSTC (Moorhead State Teachers College) High School in Moorhead,[6][7] where he played eight-man football.[5][4] As a center on the school's basketball team, he set school scoring records over his three-year career. He first played center as a 14-year old sophomore at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), but was 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) as a senior.[7][8]

He also was a discus thrower and threw shot put on the school's track team (setting conference records in those events), and was an outstanding offensive and defensive player on the school's football team, playing as a lineman and in the backfield.[6][9][10][11][12] In 1956, he was selected by the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune as a lineman on its six and eight-man All-State high school football team; as well as being selected All-City by The Fargo Forum.[13][12] He played football from his freshman year on, with the team winning conference titles in 1953, 1955 and 1956, losing only one game during those three years.[4]

Basketball was his first love in high school.[4] As a junior, he led the basketball team to a conference title and led the conference in scoring.[14] During his senior year (1957), Larsen led the MSTC High School Baby Dragons to victory over the Moorhead High School Spuds in the Minnesota District 23 basketball tournament in March 1957. Defeating Moorhead in this game was one of Larsen's biggest high school thrills, though the Baby Dragons lost in the next round, with Larsen tying as game high-scorer with 18 points.[15][4]

College career

[edit]

He played college football at Concordia College in two separate stints. He enrolled at Concordia in 1957 and played on the team that won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) title. In 1958, he left to join the United States Marines due to struggling with his grades. He spent three years there (playing two in service football) and started a family with his newly married wife Wende that resulted in him having a three month old daughter by the time he returned to Concordia in 1961. A stout defensive tackle and/or end, teams averaged 2.9 yards per carry versus Concordia in his senior season. He played varsity football and basketball in the 1962-63 and 1963-64 school years.[5][4][16][17] In a February 1964 basketball game against the North Dakota State University Bison, Larsen had 26 points and 17 rebounds.[18]

Larsen was twice selected All-MIAC at tackle. He was the football team's co-captain in his senior year.[16]

Professional career

[edit]

Los Angeles Rams

[edit]

The Los Angeles Rams selected Larsen in the 10th round of the 1964 NFL draft, 133rd overall.[19] He started his NFL career in 1964 with the Rams, backing up future Hall of Fame left tackle Merlin Olsen[20] (part of the Rams' Fearsome Foursome of Olsen, Roosevelt Grier, David "Deacon" Jones and Lamar Lundy). When Larsen would come in the game at Olsen's spot at left tackle, Olsen would move over to take Lundy's spot at left defensive end. Larsen started in the final game of the 1964 season against the Green Bay Packers, recovering one or two fumbles. After Larsen's rookie season, he was traded as a "throw-in" part of a deal that sent Larsen and former All-Pro receiver Jim Phillips to the Minnesota Vikings for Jack Snow (drafted by the Vikings to his disapproval) in 1965. Larsen was happy with the trade.[21][16][22][17]

Minnesota Vikings

[edit]

At the time he came to Minnesota in 1965, the Vikings had left defensive end Carl Eller (a fellow second-year player) and right defensive end Jim Marshall on the roster.[23][24] Eller would go on to a Hall of Fame career with the Vikings.[25] Marshall was a member of the first Vikings team in 1961, and played 19 years, with 270 consecutive starts, for the team.[26][27] Larsen started nine games in 1965 and all 14 games in 1966, playing at left tackle next to Eller.[1] In 1967, future Hall of Famer Alan Page was drafted to play defensive tackle,[28][29] becoming the final piece of what became generally known as the "Purple People Eaters" with Eller, Marshall, and Larsen; the four of whom originally referring to themselves as the "Purple Gang".[27]

However, the Purple People Eater unit did not start with Page's joining the team in 1967. Rather, Page replaced Larsen who had started at left tackle next to Eller in 1966, with veteran Paul Dickson starting the majority of games at right tackle, as he had in 1966.[30][28][31] The Vikings had a 3–8–3 record in 1967.[32] In 1968, Vikings coach Bud Grant moved Larsen back to the starting lineup at left tackle, with Page at right tackle and Dickson as a backup.[33]

The team was markedly improved in 1968, winning the NFL's Central Division with an 8–6 record.[34] Grant attributed the team's improvement in large part to the defensive line. Larsen's play was outstanding (including an early season game where he tackled Detroit Lions quarterback Bill Munson five times for losses); and the versatile Page, who could play any position on the line, improved the team's pass rush.[33] In 1968, Larsen had 10 quarterback sacks, Eller eight, Page 11 and Marshall 10; all but Larsen being selected to the Pro Bowl.[34][35]

For the next four seasons (1969-72) Larsen started every Vikings game at left tackle, and started 12 of 14 games in 1973, all alongside Eller, Page and Marshall.[1][36][37][38] He played out his option with the Vikings in 1974, and the Vikings did not offer him a new contract in 1975.[39]

Larsen (nicknamed the “Norse Nightmare”)[17] was a key piece of the unit's success because Larsen gave Eller, Marshall and Page the freedom to go to where the football was located during a play because, as Jim Marshall said, "'he had our backs all the time'".[40][41] The four linemen would reach the Super Bowl three times (all losses), twice as a starting unit: Super Bowl IV[42] (doing so by winning the 1969 NFL Championship Game),[43] Super Bowl VIII[44] and Super Bowl IX.[45] Larsen did not start in Super Bowl IX, his final game as a player. The 35-year old Larsen had been supplanted by Doug Sutherland in the lineup during the season due to injuries to his foot along with a sore knee; Larsen starting six games and Sutherland eight during the 1974 regular season.[17][46][47]

In 1969, the entire unit was elected to the Pro Bowl (the first time one team sent four defensive linemen), and none of the unit missed a game from 1968 to 1973.[48][17][1][36][37][38] Larsen made the Pro Bowl for the second and last time in 1970, along with Eller and Page.[49]

Sacks were not officially tracked until 1982, but statisticians have retroactively accounted for a majority of NFL sacks going back to 1960, with Larsen being found to have had 38.5 sacks in his career, with ten occurring in 1968.[50] Larsen was recognized as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings in 2010.[51]

Personal life

[edit]

Larsen and his wife Wende have four daughters.[4] As of 2013, Larsen lived in Lacey, Washington with his wife after years spent in Bellevue, Washington managing a Ford dealership. In 2013, Larsen was one of more than 4,500 former football players who filed a lawsuit against the league over concussions and other head injuries.[52]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Gary Larsen

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Gary Larsen (born March 13, 1940) is an American former professional who played as a in the (). Larsen began his career with the in 1964 before joining the Minnesota Vikings in 1965, where he spent the remainder of his ten-year professional tenure until retiring after the 1974 season. As a key member of the Vikings' "" defensive line alongside , , and Jim Marshall, Larsen contributed to one of the league's most formidable front fours during the late 1960s and early 1970s, helping the team reach Super Bowls IV and VIII. Over his career, he appeared in 135 games with 105 starts, recorded 10 fumble recoveries, and earned two selections in 1969 and 1970.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and High School

Gary Larsen was born on March 13, 1940, in . He grew up on a near , where his family cultivated and sugar beets. This rural upbringing in the region involved manual labor typical of Midwestern agriculture during the mid-20th century, contributing to his physical development ahead of athletic pursuits. Larsen attended high school in , graduating in 1957. During this period, he participated in , a variant common in smaller rural schools in northern at the time, which emphasized speed and versatility over the standard eleven-man format. His involvement in the sport highlighted early athletic promise, though detailed records of his high school performance, such as statistics or awards, remain limited in available accounts. The eight-man game, played on a narrower field, honed skills in blocking and tackling that later translated to professional levels, despite the less competitive environment compared to urban eleven-man programs.

College Career at Concordia-Moorhead

Gary Larsen played at Concordia College in , suiting up for the Concordia Cobbers from 1961 to 1963 as a and end. During his tenure, he contributed to a stout defensive unit under coach Jake Christiansen, who guided the program through multiple successful seasons in the (MIAC). Larsen also participated in varsity , showcasing versatility as a multi-sport at the small liberal arts institution. In his senior year of 1963, Larsen's defensive play helped limit opposing rushing attacks to an average of 2.9 yards per carry, underscoring the Cobbers' run-stopping prowess that season. This performance on a Division III program drew professional scouts' attention, culminating in his selection by the in the 10th round (133rd overall) of the . Detailed individual statistics from his college games remain scarce due to the era and level of competition, but his draft status reflects peer and coach evaluations of his size (6-foot-5, 261 pounds), strength, and disruptive potential along the line.

Professional Football Career

Draft and Los Angeles Rams Tenure

Larsen was selected by the in the tenth round (133rd overall) of the out of Concordia College-Moorhead. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing approximately 260 pounds, he played . In his rookie season of 1964, Larsen appeared in all 14 games for the Rams, starting one as a reserve behind future Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen on the team's Fearsome Foursome defensive line. The Rams finished the year with a 5–7–2 record, placing third in the Western Conference. His limited role reflected the depth of the Rams' front four, which included Olsen, Deacon Jones, Rosey Brown, and Lamar Lundy, though official sack statistics were not recorded league-wide at the time. Following the 1964 season, Larsen was traded to the Vikings in exchange for Jack Snow, who had been drafted by Minnesota but refused to report; the deal facilitated Snow's move to . This transaction marked the end of his brief tenure with the after one season.

Minnesota Vikings Era

Larsen joined the Vikings via trade from the Los Angeles Rams prior to the 1965 season, as part of a deal that included receiver Jim Phillips heading to the Rams. Over the next decade, from 1965 to 1974, he appeared in 135 games for , starting 114, and amassed 37 sacks as a . As a foundational member of the Vikings' "Purple People Eaters" defensive line—alongside ends Carl Eller and Jim Marshall, and tackle Alan Page—Larsen functioned primarily as the unit's "policeman," drawing double-teams and controlling the interior to enable pass-rush opportunities for his teammates. This role contributed to the line's dominance, with the Vikings ranking among the NFL's top defenses annually during his starting years; in 1969, Minnesota's defense allowed just 9.3 points per game en route to an NFL championship win over the Cleveland Browns, though they lost Super Bowl IV to the Kansas City Chiefs. Larsen earned honors in 1969 and 1970, reflecting his consistency amid the ' sustained contention, including NFC titles in 1969, 1973, 1974, and 1976, and subsequent appearances in IV, VIII, IX, and XI. His unheralded but essential blocking neutralization helped sustain the defensive line's pressure, with the unit collectively recording over 100 sacks in peak seasons like 1969. By retirement following the 1974 season, Larsen's tenure underscored the ' shift toward a gap-control, run-stuffing front that prioritized team disruption over individual flash.

Career Statistics and Playing Style


Gary Larsen appeared in 149 games over 11 seasons, starting 116, primarily as a for the from 1965 to 1974 after a brief stint with the in 1964. His career defensive statistics include an estimated 39.5 sacks—unofficial prior to 1982—and 12 fumble recoveries, with no interceptions recorded. He earned selections in 1969 and 1970 for his contributions to the ' dominant defensive line.
YearTeamGGSSkFR
1964LAR1411.52
1965MIN1292.01
1966MIN14143.50
1967MIN1431.02
1968MIN141410.02
1969MIN14148.01
1970MIN14146.02
1971MIN14143.51
1972MIN14143.00
1973MIN14120.01
1974MIN1161.00
Career-14911639.512
Note: Sacks are unofficial estimates; tackles not officially tracked during Larsen's era. Larsen exemplified a classic run-stuffing , leveraging his 6-foot-5, 261-pound frame to anchor the interior line and disrupt blocking schemes, particularly as the often-overlooked fourth member of the ' "." His style emphasized grit, strength, and reliability against the run, freeing up pass rushers like and while contributing to big-game efforts, including three fumble recoveries in the 1973 playoffs. Though less flashy than teammates, Larsen's consistent presence helped form one of the league's most formidable fronts, allowing the unit to lead the in points allowed multiple times during his tenure.

Achievements and Team Impact

Individual Honors

Larsen earned two selections as a for the , following the 1969 and 1970 seasons. These honors recognized his contributions to the ' dominant defensive line, though he received no designations during his career. In franchise-specific recognitions, Larsen was selected to the Minnesota Vikings' 25th Anniversary Team in 1985 and included on the team's list of the 50 Greatest Vikings players, announced in 2010 to commemorate the franchise's 50th season. These team-voted honors highlighted his role in the "" defensive unit from 1965 to 1974.

Role in Super Bowl Runs and Defensive Success

Gary Larsen served as a starting for the Minnesota Vikings during their three consecutive appearances from 1970 to 1975, anchoring the interior line as part of the renowned "" front four alongside ends Jim Marshall and and tackle . His role emphasized run-stopping and occupying blockers to free up linebackers and edge rushers, contributing to defenses that ranked among the league's stingiest in points allowed during those championship pushes. Over his 10 seasons with Minnesota (1964–1974), Larsen amassed 37 sacks and started 114 of 135 games, providing consistent interior pressure and gap control that underpinned the unit's dominance. In the 1969 season leading to , Larsen's performance helped the ' defense surrender just 133 points over 14 regular-season games (9.5 per game), the fewest in the , en route to a 12–2 record and the NFL Championship victory over the . Selected to his first that year, Larsen started in the loss to the , where the held Kansas City to 23 points despite the defeat. The following 1970 season saw him earn a second nod amid another strong defensive showing, though the team fell short of the playoffs. Larsen remained a fixture in the lineup for the 1973 and 1974 campaigns, starting in (a 24–7 loss to the after allowing 168 points or 12.0 per game in the regular season) and (a 16–6 loss to the following 195 points allowed or 13.9 per game). His tenacity against the run complemented the pass-rushing prowess of his Hall of Fame teammates, enabling Minnesota's defenses to consistently rank top-five in points allowed and facilitating five NFC Championship games across the era, though the secured no titles. Larsen retired after the 1974 season, having played a pivotal, if understated, role in transforming the into perennial contenders through defensive excellence.

Legacy

Purple People Eaters Contribution

Gary Larsen served as a foundational defensive tackle in the Minnesota Vikings' "Purple People Eaters" front four, which terrorized NFL offenses from the late 1960s through the early 1970s alongside ends Jim Marshall and Carl Eller and tackle Alan Page. The nickname, derived from a children's song, reflected the unit's voracious disruption of opposing plays, with Larsen often described as the "quiet" or "policeman" enforcer responsible for anchoring against the run and drawing double-teams to enable pass-rush opportunities for his Hall of Fame teammates. Larsen's contributions peaked during the Vikings' most dominant defensive years, including 1968 when the line amassed 44 sacks—10 credited to him—while the team ranked among the league's top units in points allowed and rushing defense. Over his 135 games with from 1964 to 1974, including 105 starts, he recovered 10 fumbles and is estimated to have 37 sacks, bolstering a defense that propelled the to three appearances (IV, VIII, and IX) and consistent NFC Championship contention. In the 1973 , he recovered three fumbles in a 27-10 victory over , exemplifying his opportunistic play in critical moments. His steady, unglamorous reliability—prioritizing run defense over splashy stats—complemented the athleticism of Page and Eller, contributing to the group's legacy as one of the NFL's most fearsome lines and earning Larsen two selections in 1969 and 1970, as well as spots on the ' 25th Anniversary and 50 Greatest teams. Larsen's retirement after the 1974 season marked the end of the original quartet's era, though the defense's blueprint influenced Minnesota's perennial contention.

Hall of Fame Debate and Post-Career Recognition

Despite his integral role in the Minnesota Vikings' dominant "Purple People Eaters" defensive line during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Gary Larsen has not been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Larsen, who anchored the interior as a run-stuffing defensive tackle alongside Hall of Famers Alan Page and Carl Eller, as well as Jim Marshall, contributed to four NFC Central division titles and three Super Bowl appearances (IV, V, and VIII) from 1969 to 1973, yet his candidacy is often overshadowed by the unit's flashier stars. While Page (inducted 1988) and Eller (2004) earned enshrinement based on multiple Pro Bowls, Defensive Player of the Year awards for Page, and higher sack totals (unofficially tracked as 148.5 for Eller and 148 for Page per Pro Football Reference estimates), Larsen's two Pro Bowl selections (1969, 1970) and estimated 38.5 sacks over 13 seasons reflect a reliable but less statistically dominant profile, which analysts cite as a barrier to stronger Hall consideration. Debate around Larsen's Hall worthiness centers on his understated yet essential "policeman" function in maintaining gap integrity and freeing teammates for plays, as evidenced by the Vikings' top-ranked defenses in points allowed (1970: 9.9 per game, league-best; 1971: 13.1; 1973: 11.2) during his peak years. Proponents argue that pre-1982 sack statistics and era-specific metrics undervalue interior linemen like Larsen, who started 118 of 191 career games and helped limit opponents to under 100 rushing yards per game in multiple seasons, but critics note his replacement by Doug Sutherland in 1974 without significant defensive drop-off as evidence against elite status. He has never advanced beyond preliminary Hall screening committees, with rankings such as 42nd among eligible Vikings on fan-driven lists highlighting persistent oversight rather than active contention. Post-retirement recognition has primarily come from the organization, including selection to the franchise's 25th Anniversary Team in 1985 and the 50 Greatest squad in 2000, affirming his foundational impact on the team's identity. Larsen participated in Hall of Fame-area autograph sessions alongside Eller and Marshall in 2005, underscoring his enduring association with the moniker coined by opponents in 1969. A forthcoming documentary on the defensive unit, announced in January 2024, features Larsen alongside his teammates, spotlighting their collective achievements in four eras under coach . These honors, while team-centric, lack the broader NFL accolades afforded to Page and Eller, reflecting Larsen's legacy as a blue-collar enabler rather than a singular icon.

Personal Life and Later Years

Family and Post-Retirement Activities

Larsen married his wife, Wende, while serving in the United States Marine Corps in the early 1960s, and their first daughter was born during that period, being three months old upon his return to college. The couple raised four daughters together and, as of 2013, had nine grandchildren. After retiring from professional football following the 1973 season, Larsen relocated with his family to , where he managed a Ford dealership for several years. He and Wende later moved to , continuing their life there into the . In retirement, Larsen occasionally participated in community events, such as attending local viewing parties for games with his wife. The couple marked their 53rd wedding anniversary around 2013. Larsen sustained an indeterminable number of concussions during his 11-year career with the Minnesota Vikings, stating that "every time you made a tackle you got hit, and then helmet-to-helmet play was the thing that you did." Post-retirement, he reported symptoms including forgetfulness, with his wife observing that he "can't remember anything," though he characterized this as "part of the game." In December 2013, Larsen joined a class-action lawsuit filed by more than 4,500 former players against the league, seeking damages for concussions and associated head trauma. He acknowledged severe long-term effects observed in peers, including suicides and institutionalization, while describing himself as "pretty lucky" in comparison. Larsen affirmed he would play professional football again, explaining, "You know, I like the game." He supported NFL efforts to assist affected players and enhance equipment but cautioned against excessive regulation that could undermine the sport's character, stating, "I hope that they don’t regulate it so much that it’s not football anymore."

References

  1. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LarsGa00.htm
  2. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Gary-Larsen
  3. https://www.theolympian.com/sports/article25281652.html
  4. https://www.nfl.com/photos/nfl-s-purple-people-eaters-0ap1000000088765
  5. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/all-pros.htm
  6. https://m.farms.com/ag-industry-news/5-nfl-players-connected-to-farming/3
  7. https://www.inforum.com/sports/former-cobbers-football-player-gary-larsen-was-part-of-two-memorable-defensive-teams-during-nfl-career
  8. https://deadspin.com/ex-viking-gary-larsen-i-forget-things-but-thats-part-1475705093/
  9. https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/l/lars00400.html
  10. https://gocobbers.com/athleticTradition/athletichistory
  11. https://theconcordian.org/revisiting-former-viking-and-cobber-athlete-gary-larsen/
  12. https://thevikingage.com/posts/10-best-defensive-linemen-history-minnesota-vikings
  13. https://nfcnorthreport.com/the-purple-people-eaters-who-were-they-and-what-did-they-do-post-career/
  14. https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/gary-larsen-11933
  15. https://www.facebook.com/NFLinthe1970s/posts/how-vital-was-gary-larsen-to-minnesotas-defense-in-the-1970si-realize-that-this-/1218860936697053/
  16. http://trailhead.pldthome.com/blog/purple-people-eaters-minnesota-vikings
  17. https://www.vikings.com/team/legends/50-greatest-vikings
  18. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/1969.htm
  19. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/1973.htm
  20. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/1974.htm
  21. https://www.notinhalloffame.com/football/top-50-football-players-by-franchise/top-50-minnesota-vikings/7950-42-gary-larsen
  22. https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2005/01/news-purple-people-eaters-signing-session/
  23. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/636296-the-best-minnesota-vikings-not-in-the-pro-football-hall-of-fame-defense
  24. https://www.dailynorseman.com/2024/1/30/24055519/documentary-purple-people-eaters-coming-soon-minnesota-vikings-page-eller-marshall-larsen
  25. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1218860820030398&id=100057194750956&set=a.536146748301812
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