Biography
This page uses content from the Merlin Olsen biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.
Merlin Jay Olsen (born September 15, 1940) is an American former National Football League player and actor.
Early years
Born in Logan, Utah, Olsen attended Utah State University. He is a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa and was a letterman in football as a defensive tackle. In football, as a senior, he was an All-American selection and was the winner of the Outland Trophy.
As a professional athlete
He played professionally (from 1962 to 1976) for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. The leading defensive star of his era, Olsen did not miss a single game in his 15-season NFL career.
Coming out of college, Olsen had offers from both Los Angeles of the NFL and Denver of the rival AFL. He chose the security of the NFL and signed with the Rams. Olsen's first contract was for around $50,000 for 2 years, plus a bonus. It was 1962, and the average football player salary back then was around $12,000 a year.
Olsen almost ended up on offense, but was later moved to the defensive line after a few experiments in practice. Soon he became part of one of the best front fours in NFL history. Deacon Jones, Rosey Grier, and Lamar Lundy joined Olsen on the defensive line in 1963 that was aptly nicknamed "The Fearsome Foursome." Throughout the 60's this foursome terrorized opposing offenses. Olsen's play helped the Rams to the playoffs in 1967 and 1969.
In the 70's, Olsen continued his dominant play at defensive tackle and his 14 sacks in 1972 was second on the team. The Rams won the NFC West crown from 1973 to 1976 thanks in part to the solid play of Olsen. They ranked first in the NFL in run defense from 1973 to 1975 and finished second, second and fourth in sacking opposing passers during the three year span. In 1976 the Rams defense finished second in the NFL against the run.
Olsen's last game was the NFC Championship game in 1976 at Bloomington, Minnesota. The Rams were good enough to make it to the Super Bowl, but the opportunistic Vikings took advantage on a freak play early in the game. A blocked field goal returned 90 yards for a touchdown shocked the Rams in the first quarter. The defense was later victimized by a couple of big plays by the Vikings. The Rams came up short, bringing the storied career of the Rams finest defensive tackle to an end.
Olsen made the Pro Bowl a record 14 times throughout his career, only missing it on his final year. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982. In 1999, he was ranked number 25 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
After retirement as a player
Following his retirement as a player, Olsen went to television as a color commentator, teaming with Dick Enberg on NBC's coverage of the AFC throughout the 1980s.
He also enjoyed success as an actor, most notably as a regular on the series Little House on the Prairie and Father Murphy. He has been a commercial spokesman for FTD Florists.
Olsen donated one of his cleats, which was bronzed, to be used during the annual football rivalry between two Las Vegas high schools, Eldorado High School and Chaparral High School, which both opened in 1973. Each year, Olsen presents the "trophy" in the ceremony at the rivalry game.
In popular culture
Olsen is also mentioned in the film Anchorman, as Will Ferrell humorously claims he is friends with Olsen to try to impress a woman he meets at a party.
External links
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