Ron Yary

Infobox NFLretired


name=Ron Yary
|width=
caption=
position=Offensive tackle
number=73
birthdate=birth date and age|1946|7|16
Chicago, Illinois
deathdate=
debutyear=1968
finalyear=1982
draftyear=1968
draftround=1
draftpick=1
college=Southern California
teams=
* Minnesota Vikings (1968-1981)
* Los Angeles Rams (1982)
stat1label=Games played
stat1value=207
stat2label=Games started
stat2value=180
stat3label=Fumble Recoveries
stat3value=2
nfl=YAR726754
highlights=
* 7x Pro Bowl selection (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977)
* 8x All-Pro selection (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977)
* 8x All-NFC selection (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977)
* NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
* 3x NFLPA NFC Offensive-lineman of the Year (1973, 1974, 1975)
* 1967 Outland Trophy
HOF=236
CollegeHOF=60055

Anthony Ronald "Ron" Yary (born July 16, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois, United States) is a former professional American football player and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yary is married to Jamie and has two sons, Jack (born 2001) and Grant (born 2005). Yary resides in Southern California and sells commercial real estate. [cite web|title=So long, SoCal? Yary wants back in the Twin Cities|url=http://www.startribune.com/510/story/1178821.html|author=Craig, Mark|publisher=Star Tribune|date=2007-05-12|accessdate=2007-05-13] However, he has recently stated that he would like to move back to the Twin Cities area. The modest Yary gave credit for his Hall of Fame induction to his former coaches, John Ashton (high school) John McKay (college) and Bud Grant (professional). He also praised his position coaches Marv Goux, Dave Levy, John Michaels and Jerry Burns, and acknowledged his closest friend as being Donnie Hollar. [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.jsp?release_id=429]

High School career

Yary attended Bellflower High School in Los Angeles County, California. In October 2001, the school named the football field Ron Yary Stadium. While attending Bellflower High School, Yary starred in football, baseball, and basketball.

College career

Anthony Ronald Yary was born in Chicago and attended Cerritos College for one year and then the University of Southern California, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. As a sophomore in 1965, Yary was voted the Pac-8 offensive lineman of the year and All-West Coast for his play at offensive tackle. Yary was a consensus All-American as a junior in 1966 [http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0746778.html] and a unanimous All-American choice in 1967 [http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0746795.html] , his senior year. He was the 1967 winner of both the Outland Trophy [http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/outland/winners.html] and the Knute Rockne Award, awards that annually go to the nation's top collegiate lineman. Yary was the first USC Trojan to win the Outland. In Yary's senior year of 1967 the Trojans won the NCAA football national championship under Coach John McKay. During Yary's three seasons, the Trojans compiled a 24-7-1 record. In 1987 Yary was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Named to the ABC Sports, Sports Illustrated and Walter Camp NCAA Football All-Century teams in 2000.

Professional career

Yary was the first overall pick of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings when the Vikings traded Fran Tarkenton to the New York Giants for that number one pick. He played from 1968 to 1981 with the Minnesota Vikings, and 1982 with the Los Angeles Rams. During Yary's tenure with the Vikings, the team won 11 division titles. During that period, Minnesota won the 1969 NFL championship and NFC titles in 1973, 1974 and 1976, and played in Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX and XI. Yary was named All Pro 6 consecutive seasons (1971-76) and 2nd Team All-Pro in 1977 and was an All-NFC choice from 1970 through 1977. He played in seven consecutive Pro Bowls, and was a major force in a Minnesota team that was highly successful throughout the 1970s. In addition to his All-pro honors, Yary was voted the NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year three times (1973-75) by the NFLPA.

Yary won the starting right tackle job (military duty forced him to miss first three games)on the Vikings offensive line in his second season and remained as a fixture at that spot throughout his Minnesota tenure. He was voted to the 1970s All-Decade First Team after the 1979 season.

The 6-5, 255-pound Yary possessed speed, agility, intelligence, aggressiveness, a hard work ethic and size - all the attributes necessary to be an outstanding offensive lineman.

In addition to his many playing abilities, Yary was also durable and willing to play in spite of injuries. he missed only two games due to injuries - both coming in 1980 with a broken ankle - in 14 years in Minnesota. Later that same year, he continued to play in spite of a broken foot.He became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. Was inducted to the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2000.It would be 29 years before another offensive lineman would be drafted first overall. That was Orlando Pace, picked by the Rams in 1997. ]

References

External links

*
* [http://www.usclegends.org/ron-yary.php Ron Yary] Profile at USC Legends