Linebacker Jeff Siemon, who made four Pro Bowls and helped the Minnesota Vikings reach three Super Bowls in 11 NFL seasons, died March 28. He was 75.
A collegiate All-American out of Stanford, Siemon was drafted by the Vikings in the first round (10th overall) of the 1972 NFL Draft. He would spend his entire career in Minnesota, never missing a game.
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Siemon’s career coincided with a run that saw the Vikings make the playoffs in each of his first six seasons, and eight of 11 overall.
Siemon finished his career ranked third all-time in team history in career tackles on defense with 1,375, a number that trails only Scott Studwell (1,928) and Matt Blair (1,404). Siemon teamed with both of those players, as well as linebackers Roy Winston and Wally Hilgenberg. All were chosen among the team’s “50 Greatest Players” in 2010.
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As part of the Vikings’ famous “Purple People Eaters” defense, Siemon made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 1973. He earned three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 1975-77 and started three Super Bowls (VIII, IX and XI).
“Jeff was a great teammate - a leader for us on the field and a really good linebacker. He was key to our teams,” teammate Bobby Bryant told the Vikings’ website. “As good of a player that Jeff was, he was a better person - truly one of the best guys we had. You never heard anyone speak cross of Jeff. His faith was his guide, and he was not afraid to share it with people. He touched so many.”
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A native of Bakersfield, California, Siemon returned to Southern California to pursue a master’s degree in law after he retired as a player. He and his wife settled in Minnesota, where he became a full-time minister.
Siemon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
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