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The Purple People Eaters was the nickname given to the defensive line of the Minnesota Vikings from 1967 to 1977, consisting mainly of Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, and Gary Larsen. The term is a reference to a popular song from 1958 , the efficiency of the defense, and the color of their uniforms.
At the time, the Vikings had defensive end Carl Eller (a fellow second-year player) and Jim Marshall on the roster. [3] Alan Page, drafted to play defensive tackle in 1967, was the final piece of what became known as the "Purple People Eaters" with Eller, Marshall, and Larsen. Larsen (nicknamed the “Norse Nightmare”) was stated as a key ...
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 ...
Of the 27 members in the Vikings Ring of Honor, seven are defensive linemen, more than any other position. The most famous position group in Vikings history, the Purple People Eaters, includes two ...
During the late 1960s, the Vikings built a powerful defense known as the Purple People Eaters, led by Alan Page, Carl Eller, Gary Larsen, and Jim Marshall. [25] In 1968, that stingy defense earned the Vikings their first Central Division title and their first playoff berth. [22] In 1969, the Vikings secured a 12–2 record. [1]
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.
Page was a member of the Vikings' "Purple People Eaters," a defensive line adept at sacking or hurrying the quarterback. Page played in 218 consecutive games without an absence ( 215 consecutive in the starting line-up ), during which he recovered 22 fumbles, made 148½ sacks (Vikings-108½, [ 6 ] Bears-40), and scored three touchdowns (two on ...
The Vikings' worst nightmare has returned. They have to stop opponents without a reliable pass rush. The loss of defensive end Danielle Hunter to a torn pectoral muscle has ramifications on all ...