The 30 greatest Minnesota Vikings players of all-time
By Adam Patrick
60. . DT. (1967-78). Alan Page. 2. player
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 2 – Alan Page
As a key member of the Purple People Eaters, Alan Page joined the Vikings as a first-round draft pick in the 1967 NFL Draft. He continued to work with his other passion while playing football: studying law at the University of Minnesota Law School.
His studies didn’t seem to have any negative impact on the football field, where Page earned nine consecutive Pro Bowl nods and was either a First or Second-Team All-Pro during that time as well. Most notably, he became the first defensive player ever to be named NFL MVP in 1971.
It’s difficult to quantify his impact because of the lack of recorded statistics during his era of play, but his productivity and leadership on the field were immeasurable. He was known for his unique stance as a right defensive tackle, where he used his left hand to plant in his 3-point stance.
A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Page was a key part of the Vikings team that went to four Super Bowls and won the 1969 NFL Championship and was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. His jersey number is retired by Minnesota, where he was enshrined in their Ring of Honor.
– AC