Purple People Eaters

The Purple People Eaters was the nickname of the Minnesota Vikings football team's defensive line of the late 1960s to the late 1970s, when the Vikings played in four Super Bowls.cite web|url=http://www.vikingupdate.com/history/historyprofiles/people-eaters.html|title=Viking Update: Purple People Eaters|accessdate=2008-02-08] The name comes from the purple color of the Vikings' uniforms and a song by Sheb Wooley entitled "Purple People Eater". The Purple People Eaters motto was, "meet at the quarterback." The most prominent members of the line were:

* Defensive tackle Alan Page, 9 Pro Bowl Selections (1968, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76), NFL MVP (1971), Hall of Fame [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PageAl00.htm|title=Pro-Football-Reference: Alan Page|accessdate=2008-02-08]
* Defensive end Carl Eller, 6 Pro Bowl Selections (1968, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74), Hall of Fame [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/ElleCa00.htm|title=Pro-Football-Reference: Carl Eller|accessdate=2008-02-08]
* Defensive end Jim Marshall, 2 Pro Bowl Selections (1968, 1969) [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MarsJi00.htm|title=Pro-Football-Reference: Jim Marshall|accessdate=2008-02-08]
* Defensive tackle Gary Larsen, 2 Pro Bowl Selections (1969, 1970) [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LarsGa00.htm|title=Pro-Football-Reference: Gary Larsen|accessdate=2008-02-08]

The Purple People Eaters were a big factor in the post-season success of the Vikings from the late 1960s through the 1970s. [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/|title=Pro-Football-Reference: Minnesota Vikings|accessdate=2008-02-08] One of the original members of the defensive line, Gary Larsen, was replaced in the mid-1970s by Doug Sutherland. [cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/team/nicknames/010622.html|title=The List: Best sports unit nickname of all time|accessdate=2008-02-08] The Purple People Eaters were one of the most identifable front fours in NFL history, along with the "Fearsome Foursome" of the Los Angeles Rams during the 1960s and early 1970s, the "Steel Curtain" of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1970s, and the "New York Sack Exchange" of the New York Jets during the 1980s.

References

External links

[http://www.vikings.com/ Minnesota Vikings Website]