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The term is a reference to a popular song from 1958, the efficiency of the defense, and the color of their uniforms. The motto of the Purple People Eaters was "Meet at the quarterback." [1] The Purple People Eaters mainly consisted of: Defensive tackle Alan Page, 9 Pro Bowl selections (1968–1976), NFL MVP (1971), Pro Football Hall of Fame [2]
"The Purple People Eater" is a novelty song written and performed by Sheb Wooley, which reached No. 1 in the Billboard pop charts in 1958 from June 9 to July 14, No. 1 in Canada, [4] reached No. 12 overall in the UK Singles Chart, and topped the Australian chart.
Purple People Eaters: [64] The 1970s Minnesota Vikings defensive line, specifically the combination of Alan Page, Jim Marshall, Carl Eller, and Gary Larsen. The name is a reference to both the purple uniforms of the Vikings and the 1958 Sheb Wooley song "Purple People Eater." Purple Murder: The Baltimore Ravens' color is purple. A group of ...
The Purple and Gold; The Purple People Eaters (defensive line, 1967–1977) Championships; League championships (0†) NFL championships (pre-1970 AFL–NFL merger) (1) 1969 † – Does not include 1969 NFL championship won during the same season that the Super Bowl was contested: Conference championships (4) NFL Western: 1969; NFC: 1973, 1974 ...
The team continued to shine in 1970 and 1971 as their "Purple People Eater" defense led them back to the playoffs. In 1971, the defense was so impressive that Alan Page became the first-ever defensive player to win the NFL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP). The first post-merger game was a rematch with Kansas City, which the Vikings won 27–10.
[2] [6] [17] As the left defensive end in the Vikings front four, he was a major factor in the unit known as the "Purple People Eaters" (the other members being Alan Page, Jim Marshall and Gary Larsen). [10] [18] [19] [20] Starting in 1968, Eller's fifth campaign, Minnesota won 10 Central Division titles in the next 11 seasons. [20]
They had 12 straight victories, the longest single-season winning streak in 35 years, [2] and became the first modern NFL expansion team to win an NFL championship. Their defense, considered the most intimidating in the NFL, was anchored by a defensive line nicknamed the " Purple People Eaters ", consisting of defensive tackles Gary Larsen and ...
The Steelers' "Steel Curtain" had led the AFC in fewest points allowed (189) and the Vikings' "Purple People Eaters" had only given up 195. As the NFC was the designated "home team" for the game, by NFL rules at the time the Vikings were required to wear their purple jerseys.