Gary Larsen
Gary Larsen (born March 13, 1940) is an American former professional football player who played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL).[1][2] Larsen began his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams in 1964 before joining the Minnesota Vikings in 1965, where he spent the remainder of his ten-year professional tenure until retiring after the 1974 season.[1][3] As a key member of the Vikings' "Purple People Eaters" defensive line alongside Alan Page, Carl Eller, and Jim Marshall, Larsen contributed to one of the league's most formidable front fours during the late 1960s and early 1970s, helping the team reach Super Bowls IV and VIII.[4][3] Over his career, he appeared in 135 games with 105 starts, recorded 10 fumble recoveries, and earned two Pro Bowl selections in 1969 and 1970.[1][5]Early Life and Education
Childhood and High School
Gary Larsen was born on March 13, 1940, in Fargo, North Dakota.[1][2] He grew up on a family farm near Moorhead, Minnesota, where his family cultivated wheat and sugar beets.[3][6] This rural upbringing in the Red River Valley region involved manual labor typical of Midwestern agriculture during the mid-20th century, contributing to his physical development ahead of athletic pursuits.[3] Larsen attended high school in Moorhead, Minnesota, graduating in 1957.[7] During this period, he participated in eight-man football, a variant common in smaller rural schools in northern Minnesota at the time, which emphasized speed and versatility over the standard eleven-man format.[3][8] His involvement in the sport highlighted early athletic promise, though detailed records of his high school performance, such as statistics or awards, remain limited in available accounts.[9] The eight-man game, played on a narrower field, honed skills in blocking and tackling that later translated to professional levels, despite the less competitive environment compared to urban eleven-man programs.[8]College Career at Concordia-Moorhead
Gary Larsen played college football at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, suiting up for the Concordia Cobbers from 1961 to 1963 as a defensive tackle and end.[9] During his tenure, he contributed to a stout defensive unit under coach Jake Christiansen, who guided the program through multiple successful seasons in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).[10] Larsen also participated in varsity basketball, showcasing versatility as a multi-sport athlete at the small liberal arts institution.[11] In his senior year of 1963, Larsen's defensive play helped limit opposing rushing attacks to an average of 2.9 yards per carry, underscoring the Cobbers' run-stopping prowess that season.[11] This performance on a Division III program drew professional scouts' attention, culminating in his selection by the Los Angeles Rams in the 10th round (133rd overall) of the 1964 NFL Draft.[1] Detailed individual statistics from his college games remain scarce due to the era and level of competition, but his draft status reflects peer and coach evaluations of his size (6-foot-5, 261 pounds), strength, and disruptive potential along the line.[9][1]Professional Football Career
Draft and Los Angeles Rams Tenure
Larsen was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the tenth round (133rd overall) of the 1964 NFL Draft out of Concordia College-Moorhead.[1][9] Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing approximately 260 pounds, he played defensive tackle.[9][7] In his rookie season of 1964, Larsen appeared in all 14 games for the Rams, starting one as a reserve behind future Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen on the team's Fearsome Foursome defensive line.[9][3] The Rams finished the year with a 5–7–2 record, placing third in the Western Conference. His limited role reflected the depth of the Rams' front four, which included Olsen, Deacon Jones, Rosey Brown, and Lamar Lundy, though official sack statistics were not recorded league-wide at the time.[3] Following the 1964 season, Larsen was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for wide receiver Jack Snow, who had been drafted by Minnesota but refused to report; the deal facilitated Snow's move to Los Angeles.[3][7] This transaction marked the end of his brief tenure with the Rams after one season.[8]Minnesota Vikings Era
Larsen joined the Minnesota Vikings via trade from the Los Angeles Rams prior to the 1965 season, as part of a deal that included receiver Jim Phillips heading to the Rams.[7] Over the next decade, from 1965 to 1974, he appeared in 135 games for Minnesota, starting 114, and amassed 37 sacks as a defensive tackle.[12] As a foundational member of the Vikings' "Purple People Eaters" defensive line—alongside ends Carl Eller and Jim Marshall, and tackle Alan Page—Larsen functioned primarily as the unit's "policeman," drawing double-teams and controlling the interior to enable pass-rush opportunities for his teammates.[13] This role contributed to the line's dominance, with the Vikings ranking among the NFL's top defenses annually during his starting years; in 1969, Minnesota's defense allowed just 9.3 points per game en route to an NFL championship win over the Cleveland Browns, though they lost Super Bowl IV to the Kansas City Chiefs.[9] Larsen earned Pro Bowl honors in 1969 and 1970, reflecting his consistency amid the Vikings' sustained contention, including NFC titles in 1969, 1973, 1974, and 1976, and subsequent Super Bowl appearances in IV, VIII, IX, and XI.[14] His unheralded but essential blocking neutralization helped sustain the defensive line's pressure, with the unit collectively recording over 100 sacks in peak seasons like 1969.[1] By retirement following the 1974 season, Larsen's tenure underscored the Vikings' shift toward a gap-control, run-stuffing front that prioritized team disruption over individual flash.[12]Career Statistics and Playing Style
Gary Larsen appeared in 149 games over 11 NFL seasons, starting 116, primarily as a defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings from 1965 to 1974 after a brief stint with the Los Angeles Rams in 1964.[1] His career defensive statistics include an estimated 39.5 sacks—unofficial prior to 1982—and 12 fumble recoveries, with no interceptions recorded.[1] He earned Pro Bowl selections in 1969 and 1970 for his contributions to the Vikings' dominant defensive line.[1]
| Year | Team | G | GS | Sk | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | LAR | 14 | 1 | 1.5 | 2 |
| 1965 | MIN | 12 | 9 | 2.0 | 1 |
| 1966 | MIN | 14 | 14 | 3.5 | 0 |
| 1967 | MIN | 14 | 3 | 1.0 | 2 |
| 1968 | MIN | 14 | 14 | 10.0 | 2 |
| 1969 | MIN | 14 | 14 | 8.0 | 1 |
| 1970 | MIN | 14 | 14 | 6.0 | 2 |
| 1971 | MIN | 14 | 14 | 3.5 | 1 |
| 1972 | MIN | 14 | 14 | 3.0 | 0 |
| 1973 | MIN | 14 | 12 | 0.0 | 1 |
| 1974 | MIN | 11 | 6 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Career | - | 149 | 116 | 39.5 | 12 |