gold star for USAHOF

1. Alan Page

This page generously sponsored by: Nobody yet! Sponsor it on Patreon to be the first name on this list!
1. Alan Page
There are so many cases you can make for who should be at the top of this list of all-time Minnesota Vikings.
Carl Eller for the star power he brought to the Purple People Eaters.
Jim Marshall for his unequaled longevity.
Fran Tarkenton who when he retired held every major Quarterback record there was.
Adrian Peterson, the superstar Running Back, who as of this writing could still hit the top in the future.


In the end, we ent with Page.  While it was his teammate, Carl Eller, who won the NEA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1971, it was Page who won the inaugural AP Defensive Player of the Year Award.  That year he became the first defensive player to win the AP Most Valuable Player of the Year.   Page also had nearly 150 Sacks, was a six-time First Team All-Pro, and the heart of the defense.  A three-team leader in Approximate Value, the ferocious pass-rusher also went to nine straight Pro Bowls, and was considered to be the finest Defensive Lineman of his day.

Page would play his final three and a half seasons with the Chicago Bears and would enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988, the same year that Minnesota retired his number 88.  in 1998, he was one of the first few players to enter the Vikings Ring of Honor.  As good as he was on the field, Page was regarded as an even finer human being.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Defensive End
  • Acquired: Drafted in the 1st Round, 15th Overall in the NFL Draft 3/14/67.
  • Departed: Waived 10/11/78.
  • Games Played: 160
  • Notable Statistics: 157 Games Started
    1 Interception
    42 Interception Yards
    1 Interception Return Touchdown
    1 Interception Return Touchdown
    19 Fumble Recoveries
    86 Fumble Recovery Yards
    1 Fumble Recovery Touchdown
    *108.5 Quarterback Sacks
    165 Approximate Value

    18 Playoff Games
    1 Interception
    29 Interception Return Yards
    7.5 Quarterback Sacks*

    *Sacks were unofficially calculated by Pro Football Reference from 1960 to 1981.
  • Major Accolades and Awards: AP MVP (1971)
    UPI MVP (1971)
    AP Defensive Player of the Year (1971)
    First Team All-Pro (1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974 & 1975)
    Second Team All-Pro (1972 & 1976)
    Pro Bowl (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 & 1976)
    Highest Approximate Value (1969, 1970 & 1981)
    Most Fumble Recoveries (1970)
    Most Fumble Recovery Yards (1970)

    *Unofficial as Quarterback Sacks were not an official statistic at the time.
Last modified on Friday, 22 July 2022 21:46
More in this category: 2. Fran Tarkenton »

Comments powered by CComment