Ranking all the Minnesota Vikings in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

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04 Aug 2001 : Ron Yary is honored during the 2001 Induction Ceremony at Hall’s Game Day Theater in Canton, Ohio. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Tom Pidgeon/Allsport /

9. Ron Yary

Position: Offensive tackle
Years with Vikings: 1968–1981
Years in the NFL:1968–1982
Other teams associated with: Los Angeles Rams
Enshrinement year: 2001

Out of USC, Ron Yary was the number one overall selection in the 1968 NFL Draft. The Vikings made history with that pick, as he became the first offensive lineman ever to be selected first overall in the NFL Draft.

Yary started 180 games over his career, playing in 207 total contests. Although he spent his final season in 1882 with the Los Angeles Rams, he is in the Vikings Ring of Honor, was part of the 50 Greatest Vikings, and was an important part of the 1969 NFL Championship squad.

There were many individual honors along the way for Yary as well. He made the Pro Bowl 7 times and was an All-Pro on eight occasions. Other accomplishments include being NFLPA NFC Offensive-lineman of the Year three times and was part of the 1970’s All-Decade Team.

One interesting thing about Yary is that he played defensive tackle in college before transitioning to the offensive side of the ball. At that position, he was voted the Pac-8 defensive lineman of the year and All-West Coast, proving just how physically dominant and athletic Yary was.

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