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Former Vikings #1 Overall Pick Tommy Mason Passes Away at 75

By Adam Carlson

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The NFL and the Minnesota Vikings got some sad news when it was reported that former Vikings player Tommy Mason passed away.  Mason is an important part of the team’s history for several reasons.

Tommy Mason was the first overall selection of the of the Minnesota Vikings in the 1961 NFL Draft.  As many Vikings fans know, this was the first year that the Vikings were a part of the NFL. That means that Mason, a running back out of Tulane, was the first player that Minnesota ever selected in the NFL Draft.  Mason was a member of the Minnesota Vikings from 1961 to 1966 before moving on to the Rams and the Redskins later in his career.

Here are Tommy Mason’s statistics over 6 seasons with the Vikings:

Jun 11, 2013; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the side of the field at the Minnesota Vikings Minicamp at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

50 games played

71 games started

761 rushing attempts

28 rushing touchdowns

3.252 rushing yards

151 catches

1689 receiving yards

11 receiving touchdowns

Mason had an 11 year long career in the NFL, finishing with 4,203 yards rushing, 2,324 yards receiving and 45 touchdowns.  However, he will always be remembered as the first draft pick that the Minnesota Vikings ever made.  Two rounds later in that draft, Minnesota chose Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton.

Tarkenton issued this statement after hearing about Tommy Mason’s passing according to Pro Football Talk:

"“Tommy was an enormous talent. He was a great player, a humble man and an outstanding teammate. I will always cherish the years I spent with Tommy,” Tarkenton said in a statement issued by the Vikings."

We at The Viking Age would like to send our condolences out to the Mason family, the Minnesota Vikings organization and those close to Mr. Mason.

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