The Vikings lost two franchise icons this weekend, with defensive stalwarts Jeff Siemon and Joey Browner passing away on Saturday.
A 1977 photo of Minnesota Vikins Jeff Siemon. (AP Photo)
Siemon, a four-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker who remains third all-time in career tackles for the Vikings, was 75. Browner, thrice selected a first-team all-pro safety and a Vikings’ Ring of Honor member, was 65.
Both players were named among the franchise’s 50 greatest players back in 2010.
The No. 10 overall pick out of Stanford in the 1972 NFL draft, Siemon patrolled the middle for the Purple People Eaters defense for 11 seasons.
Siemon had one of four Vikings interceptions in the 1973 NFC championship game against Dallas. The Vikings beat the Roger Staubach-led Cowboys 27-10 for the team’s first postseason road win and advanced to Super Bowl VIII.
Bobby Bryant, another member of the 50 Greatest Vikings who picked off Staubach in that game, played with Siemon for nine seasons.
“Jeff was a great teammate — a leader for us on the field and a really good linebacker. He was key to our teams,” Bryant told Vikings.com. “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.”
Forty-three years after retiring, Siemon still ranks third all-time in team history in career tackles with 1,375, behind only Scott Studwell (1,928) and Matt Blair (1,404)..
Siemon was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time following the 1973 season and earned three consecutive nods from 1975-77. He also started in three Super Bowls for the Vikings following the 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons.
Born in Rochester, Minn., Siemon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
Former Vikings receiver and teammate Ahmad Rashad played with Siemon for seven seasons. “His work ethic was absolutely tremendous,” Rashad told Vikings.com. “And above it all, he is one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet.”
The Vikings selected Browner with the 19th overall selection in 1983 draft, making him the first defensive back the team ever chose in the first round.
“We’ve lost a great friend and one of the best Vikings teammates,” fellow Vikings great Steve Jordan told the team’s website. “God blessed Joey with phenomenal talent and a big heart to love people and be a beacon of positivity. Truly, he will be missed.”
His 37 interceptions rank fifth all time in franchise history, while Browner also forced 17 fumbles — the same number he recovered. He also tallied 9.5 career sacks.
Browner — who had three brothers also play in the NFL — led the team in tackles in 1986 and 1987 and was a key reason Minnesota sported the league’s top defense in 1988 and 1989 by yards allowed.
He was named to the NFL’s team of the decade for the 1980s.
“Joey was one of those players that could transcend any generation of player,” Studwell told the team’s website in 2013, when Browner was inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Honor. “He could’ve played today. When he played, he was one of the best at his position.”