View source for Carl Eller

{{Short description|American football player (born 1942)}}
{{For|the American businessman|Karl Eller}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Carl Eller
| image         = Carl Eller 2007.jpg
| image_size    =
| alt           = 
| caption       = Eller in 2007
| number        = 81, 71
| position      = [[Defensive end]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1942|1|25}}
| birth_place   = [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina]], U.S.
| death_date    = 
| death_place   = 
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 6
| weight_lb     = 247
| high_school   = [[Atkins High School (North Carolina)|Atkins]] <br> (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
| college       = [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Minnesota]] (1961–1963)
| draftyear     = 1964
| draftround    = 1
| draftpick     = 6
| afldraftyear  = 1964
| afldraftround = 1
| afldraftpick  = 5
| pastteams     =
* [[Minnesota Vikings]] ({{NFL Year|1964|1978}})
* [[Seattle Seahawks]] ({{NFL Year|1979}})
| highlights    =
* [[List of NFL champions (1920–1969)|NFL champion]] ([[1969 NFL Championship Game|1969]])
* [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year|NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] (1971)
* 5× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1968 All-Pro Team|1968]]–[[1971 All-Pro Team|1971]], [[1973 All-Pro Team|1973]])
* 2× Second-team All-Pro ([[1967 All-Pro Team|1967]], [[1972 All-Pro Team|1972]])
* 6× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1969 Pro Bowl|1968]]–[[1972 Pro Bowl|1971]], [[1974 Pro Bowl|1973]], [[1975 Pro Bowl|1974]])
* [[List of NFL annual sacks leaders|NFL sacks co-leader]] (1969)
* [[NFL 1970s All-Decade Team]]
* [[Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor]]
* [[50 Greatest Vikings]]
* [[Minnesota Vikings 25th Anniversary Team]]
* [[Minnesota Vikings 40th Anniversary Team]]
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] (1960)
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1963 College Football All-America Team|1963]])
* First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1963 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1963]])
* Second-team All-Big Ten ([[1962 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1962]])
* [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]] champion ([[1962 Rose Bowl|1961]])
| statlabel1    = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue1    = 133.5
| statlabel2    = [[Safety (gridiron football score)|Safeties]]
| statvalue2    = 2
| statlabel3    = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue3    = 1
| statlabel4    = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue4    = 23
| statlabel5    = Defensive [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue5    = 1
| pfr           = E/ElleCa00
| HOF           = carl-eller
| CollegeHOF    = 2178 
}}

'''Carl Eller''' (born January 25, 1942) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who played as a [[defensive end]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1964 through 1979. He was born in [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina]] and played [[college football]] for the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Minnesota Golden Gophers]]. He was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2004.

== Early life ==
Eller was born on January 25, 1942, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Carl Eller Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/ElleCa00.htm |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Eller's family was poor, and his father died when Eller was young. Early in his Professional Football Hall of Fame acceptance speech, Eller acknowledges how great his parents were in his life.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Carl Eller {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/carl-eller/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> 

He attended [[Atkins High School (North Carolina)|Atkins High School]], where he excelled in football, and was inspired and given direction by his high school football coaches.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> His team won the 1959 state football championship. One of his championship teammates was future [[National Basketball Association]] player [[Happy Hairston]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Overbea |first=Luix |date=May 15, 1966 |title=Carl Eller's Homecoming |work=Winston-Salem Journal |pages=12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Happy Hairston Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hairsha01.html |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was also on the track team, in [[Discus throw|discus]] and [[shot put]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Overbea |first=Luix |date=May 3, 1959 |title=Atkins Places Nine In State Track Event |work=Winston-Salem Journal |pages=21}}</ref>

He got the nickname "Moose" while playing sandlot football around the same time.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Press |first=BOB SANSEVERE St Paul (Minn ) Pioneer |date=2004-08-08 |title=PROUD PURPLE PEOPLE EATER FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN WINSTON-SALEM, CARL ELLER'S FOOTBALL CAREER TAKES HIM TO THE HALL OF FAME AS A ... |url=https://greensboro.com/proud-purple-people-eater-from-humble-beginnings-in-winston-salem-carl-ellers-football-career-takes/article_e5be32c9-96ce-5a02-b712-ab6cb66a6348.html |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Greensboro News and Record |language=en}}</ref>  

==College career==
He was recruited to the [[University of Minnesota]] by head coach [[Murray Warmath|Murrary Warmath]], on the recommendation of [[Bobby Bell]], a fellow North Carolina high school player, from [[Shelby, North Carolina|Shelby]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":10" /> Eller played defensive tackle from 1961-1963, and began starting in his sophomore year (1961), playing with a broken hand that year.<ref name=":2">{{College Football HoF|id=2178}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Carl Eller - M Club Hall of Fame |url=https://gophersports.com/sports/2018/5/21/sports-m-club-spec-rel-hof-eller-html |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=University of Minnesota Athletics |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=de la Rosa |first=Poch |date=2022-12-15 |title=The Life And Career Of Carl Eller (Story) |url=https://www.profootballhistory.com/carl-eller/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Pro Football History |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1961 and 1962, Eller played tackle alongside Bell, a future NFL Hall of fame linebacker and the 1962 [[Outland Trophy]] winner.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bobby Bell - M Club Hall of Fame |url=https://gophersports.com/sports/2018/5/21/sports-m-club-spec-rel-hof-bell-html |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=University of Minnesota Athletics |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Shelby to Immortalize Football Hall of Famer Bobby Bell. Here's How. {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2020/08/shelby-nc-to-immortalize-football-hall-of-famer-bobby-bell-heres-how/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bobby Bell {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bobby-bell/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref>

As a sophomore, on January 1, 1962, Eller starred in helping lead the Golden Gophers to a 21–3 [[1962 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]] victory over [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rose Bowl - Minnesota at UCLA Box Score, January 1, 1962 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/1962-01-01-ucla.html |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Eller played both offensive left tackle and defensive tackle in the game, throwing key [[Blocking (American football)|blocks]] as an offensive lineman during the game.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 2, 1962 |title=W-S's Eller Is Rose Bowl Star |work=Winston-Salem Journal |pages=16}}</ref> The team had been divided on whether to go back to the Rose Bowl, after losing the game one year earlier,<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Rose Bowl - Washington vs Minnesota Box Score, January 2, 1961 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/1961-01-02-minnesota.html |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> but quarterback Sandy Stevens convinced the team they should go for Eller's sake, as he might never have another opportunity to play in the game.<ref name=":11" /> In 1972, a group of writers and Rose Bowl experts included Eller at defensive tackle on their 50-year Rose Bowl team.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 1, 1972 |title=Hutson Tops Rose Star Team |work=Detroit Free Press |pages=14}}</ref>

While Eller shared the starting position at offensive tackle as a sophomore,<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Garber |first=Mary |date=October 2, 1961 |title=Skirt-In' Sports, Something on Carl Eller |work=The Sentinel (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) |pages=21}}</ref> he became a full-time, [[two-way player]] as a junior and senior<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Reusse |first=Patrick |date=2023-01-07 |title=Carl Eller has had a good view for two of the strangest teams in Vikings franchise history |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vikings-carl-eller-strangest-two-teams-in-franchise-history-patrick-reusse/600241453 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=www.startribune.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Carl Eller College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/carl-eller-1.html |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> and was voted [[All-America]] in 1962{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} and 1963.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 6, 1963 |title=Three Quarterbacks Are Named on AP's All-America Team |work=The Buffalo News |pages=1}}</ref> 

The 1962 [[Navy Midshipmen football|Naval Academy]] team included Eller on its all-opponent team.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 7, 1962 |title=Bell Heads List Of Opponents On Middies' Unit |work=The Mercury (Pottstown, Pennsylvania) |pages=31}}</ref> As a junior in 1962, he was second team All-Big Ten,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Honors and Awards |url=https://gophersports.com/sports/2018/5/21/sports-m-footbl-spec-rel-honors-awards-html |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=University of Minnesota Athletics |language=en}}</ref> and the following year Eller was a consensus All-American and first team All-Big Ten.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 College Football Summary |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1963.html#all_all_americans |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> In 1963, he also won the school's [[Bronko Nagurski Trophy|Bronko Nagurski Award]] as the team's most valuable player.<ref name=":5" /> As a senior (1963), Eller was the runner-up for the Outland Trophy.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />

During his freshman year in college, the [[1960 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|1960 Gophers]] were National Champions and Big Ten Champions, losing in the Rose Bowl; though Eller did not play on that team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1960 National Champions |url=https://gophersports.com/sports/2018/5/21/sports-m-footbl-spec-rel-1960-champions-html |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=University of Minnesota Athletics |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Big Ten Conference Index |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/big-ten/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":12" /> Minnesota was a losing team in the immediate prior seasons, and coach Warmath had decided to field a racially and geographically diverse team. Eller, who was on the 1960 freshman team, believed and emphasized that the ultimately successful Minnesota teams during that era were “'a major, major factor in the [Black] freedom movement.'"<ref name=":11">{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Rick |date=2020-12-08 |title=That Championship Season (Minnesota Alumni magazine) |url=https://www.minnesotaalumni.org/stories/that-championship-season |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250115085120/https://www.minnesotaalumni.org/stories/that-championship-season |archive-date=2025-01-15 |access-date=2025-05-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>

At the [[University of Minnesota]], Eller joined the Mu chapter of the [[Alpha Phi Alpha]] fraternity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nicindy.org/whos_greek/greeks_in_sports/football/AmericanFootballHOF.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016061857/http://nicindy.org/whos_greek/greeks_in_sports/football/AmericanFootballHOF.htm|url-status=dead|title=Greeks in Football|archive-date=October 16, 2007}}</ref> 

==Professional career==
In 1964, Eller was selected in the first round of the [[NFL draft]] by  the [[Minnesota Vikings]] (6th overall). He was also selected in the first round of the [[American Football League draft]] by the [[Buffalo Bills]] (5th overall), who could not sign him.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=1964 AFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1964_AFL/draft.htm |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>  As the left [[defensive end]] in the Vikings front four, he was a major factor in the unit known as the "[[Purple People Eaters]]" (the other members being [[Alan Page]], [[Jim Marshall (defensive end)|Jim Marshall]] and [[Gary Larsen]]).<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Carl Eller, Defensive End, The Official Site of the Minnesota Vikings |url=https://www.vikings.com/team/front-office-roster/carl-eller |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=www.vikings.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL's Purple People Eaters |url=https://www.nfl.com/photos/nfl-s-purple-people-eaters-0ap1000000088765#e7844cdb-ac3e-4cdd-a02f-d2b7d8796f69 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Ragatz |first=Will |date=2024-01-31 |title=A Documentary on the Purple People Eaters is On the Way |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/documentary-purple-people-eaters-on-the-way-vikings |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Minnesota Vikings On SI |language=en-US}}</ref>

Starting in 1968, Eller's fifth campaign, Minnesota won 10 Central Division titles in the next 11 seasons.<ref name=":8" /> The Vikings won the NFL Championship in 1969,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/nfl-champions/ |title=NFL Champions 1920-2015 |access-date=December 18, 2018}}</ref> losing to the AFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs in [[Super Bowl IV]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl IV - Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs - January 11th, 1970 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197001110kan.htm |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The Vikings also won the NFC Championships in 1973, 1974, and 1976,<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Champions: Complete list of winners by year |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfc-champions-complete-list-winners-year |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=FOX Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> but lost in the Super Bowl each year.<ref name=":8" />  Eller was one of 11 Vikings to play in all four of their [[Super Bowl]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sansevere |first=Bob |date=2018-02-01 |title=1970s Vikings remember four trips to Super Bowl as success … and failure |url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/02/01/1970s-vikings-remember-four-trips-to-super-bowl-as-success-and-failure/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Twin Cities |language=en-US}}</ref>

He was selected to play in six [[Pro Bowl]]s (1968–1971, 1973, and 1974).<ref name=":9" /> After being traded with an eighth-round pick to Seattle Seahawks for defensive tackle [[Steve Niehaus]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=1979-07-31 |title=Vikings Trade Eller |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/31/archives/vikings-trade-eller.html |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Eller played his final season in 1979 with the [[Seattle Seahawks]], where he ran his career total to 225 games. In his career, "Moose" only missed three games and started 209 out of the 225 he played.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Henn |first=Donnie |date=2016-09-23 |title=Eller: 'If you could make it back to the huddle you were okay' |url=https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/eller-if-you-could-make-it-back-to-the-huddle-you-were-okay |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Rochester Post Bulletin |language=en}}</ref>

Eller is credited as the Vikings' all-time sack leader with 130½.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vikings.com/TeamHistoryPage_HistoryRingOfHonor.aspx |title=Vikings.com Ring of Honor |access-date=December 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205005245/http://www.vikings.com/TeamHistoryPage_HistoryRingOfHonor.aspx |archive-date=February 5, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also had 3 sacks with the Seahawks in 1979 for a career total of 133½. He set a career high with 15 sacks in 1969 and matched that total in 1977; he also amassed 7 seasons with 10 or more sacks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vikings.com/historyalumni_detail_objectname_CarlEller.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051101095217/http://www.vikings.com/historyalumni_detail_objectname_CarlEller.html|url-status=dead|title=Vikings.com|archive-date=November 1, 2005}}</ref><ref name=":9" /> He recovered 23 fumbles during his career.<ref name=":3" />

Eller was First-team All-NFL from 1968 to 1971, and again in 1973.<ref name=":9" /> He was also Second-team All-Pro in 1967<ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> and 1972<ref>{{Cite web |title=1972 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1972/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> and was named first team All-NFC by the [[Associated Press|AP]], [[United Press International|UPI]], <ref>{{Cite web |title=1975 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1975/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> and [[The Sporting News]] {{citation needed|date=January 2025}}in 1975. Including his Pro Bowls, Eller had a nine-year consecutive streak of post-season honors which began in 1967 with his Second-team All-Pro selection and ended in 1975 with his All-NFC honors. He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1970s All-Decade Team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams - 1970s |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/pfhof_all_decade_1970.htm |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

He was voted the winner of the [[Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award|George Halas Trophy]] in 1971 as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year as awarded by the [[Newspaper Enterprise Association]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/players/carl-eller/|title=Carl Eller &#124; Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site|website=www.profootballhof.com}}</ref>

== Honors and awards ==
In 2004, Eller was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].<ref name="auto" /> He was elected to the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 2006.<ref name=":2" /> In 2000, Eller was named to the Vikings' 40th Anniversary Team and in 2010, he was named to the Vikings' 50th Anniversary team. Beginning in 1984, following each football season, the Carl Eller Award is given to the University of Minnesota's Defensive Player of the Year.<ref name=":5" />  In 1992, he was inducted into the University of Minnesota's M Club Hall of Fame.<ref name=":3" />

In 2003, he was named to the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] Hall of Very Good in the association's inaugural HOVG class.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall of Very Good |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2003.html |accessdate=November 29, 2021}}</ref> 

==Life after football==

As a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, Eller founded a group of substance-abuse clinics in the Twin Cities called Triumph Life Centers in 1986.
He obtained a college degree in Human Services from [[Metropolitan State University]] in 1994 and went on to work for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, addressing issues of health disparities between white people and people of color.<ref>[http://www.alumni.umn.edu/printview/f5831e66-4f6b-42aa-9c75-43d0e76ba797.html Carl Eller Takes a Stand], University of Minnesota Alumni Association, July–August 2005</ref>

Eller was arrested in 2006 for [[driving under the influence]] and pleaded guilty.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2346348 |title=Hall of Famer Eller faces misdemeanor DUI charge |date=February 27, 2006 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> He was arrested in 2008 for fourth-degree assault of a [[police officer]] and second-degree refusal to submit to chemical testing, both [[gross misdemeanor]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2008-04-09-3316541816_x.htm|title=Ex-Viking Eller arrested after chase - USATODAY.com|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com}}</ref> He was sentenced and served 60 days in the county workhouse.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3928168|title=Ex-Vikings great Eller sentenced to workhouse|date=February 23, 2009|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

Eller later served as president of the NFL Retired Players Association. In 2020, he joined the Halberd Corporation, a research-based publicly traded company that helps discover and develop medical treatments for diseases, as a consultant.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=July 27, 2020 |title=Retired NFL Great Carl Eller Joins Halberd Corporation |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/retired-nfl-great-carl-eller-120000384.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230924064238/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/retired-nfl-great-carl-eller-120000384.html |archive-date=2023-09-24 |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Footballstats |pfr=ElleCa00}}
* {{profootballhof|id=63|name=Carl Eller}}
* {{College Football HoF|2178}}

{{1963 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1964 NFL Draft}}
{{Bills1964DraftPicks}}
{{VikingsFirstPick}}
{{Vikings1964DraftPicks}}
{{1969 Minnesota Vikings}}
{{NFL1970s}}
{{Vikings Ring Of Honor}}
{{NFL sack leaders}}
{{2004 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eller, Carl}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football defensive linemen]]
[[Category:American substance abuse counselors]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football players]]
[[Category:Minnesota Vikings players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:NFL announcers]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Winston-Salem, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Seattle Seahawks players]]
[[Category:Western Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Alpha Phi Alpha members]]