Merlin Olsen

Football Player

• Born: September 15, 1940
• Birthplace: Logan, Utah
• Died: March 11, 2010
• Place of death: Duarte, California

Sport: Football

Early Life

Merlin Jay Olsen was born on September 15, 1940, to Merle and Lynn Olsen in Logan, Utah. Merlin is the second oldest in a family of nine children. His childhood was a pastoral one. He grew up north of Salt Lake City in the peaceful Cache Valley.

The Olsen family members were devout Mormons and followed traditional values. They were not well-off, especially with so many children to feed. When it was harvest time in Cache Valley, all nine Olsen children formed an assembly line to can 1,600 quarts of peaches or a ton of potatoes. Often, Mrs. Olsen would buy one hundred chickens at a time; her children all pitched in to prepare them for freezing.

The Road to Excellence

Merlin became a well-rounded athlete in his high school years. He was large for his age and played on the football team. Later on, two of his brothers enjoyed professional football careers, Phil Olsen with the Los Angeles Rams and the Denver Broncos, and Orrin Olsen with the Kansas City Chiefs.

When Merlin went to college, he did not have to go far. Utah State University was only a few blocks from his home. He proved to be an exceptional student, earning straight A’s as a finance and economics major. He eventually graduated with top honors and a Phi Beta Kappa key.

Merlin played defensive tackle so well that as a senior he achieved consensus all-American status and made the academic all-American team. He also won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s most outstanding lineman. By 1962, it was easy to predict greatness for Merlin. In addition to his all-American and Phi Beta Kappa achievements that year, he was a first-round NFL draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams. In addition, Merlin married Susan Wakley; the couple eventually had three children, Kelly, Jill, and Nathan.

The Emerging Champion

With the Rams, Merlin did not disappoint. His strength, endurance, and enthusiasm impressed teammates from the beginning. At 6 feet 5 inches and 275 pounds, he was quick on his feet—an advantage that he put to use constantly. In his first season, he was named his team’s rookie of the year. Before long, Merlin led the club in unassisted tackles and was recognized as one of the NFL’s finest linemen. Few lineman could deliver a jarring tackle or break through the offensive line as well as he could.

In 1966, Merlin played on the famous defensive line known as the Fearsome Foursome with Lamar Lundy, Deacon Jones, and Roosevelt Grier. Together they made a highly successful defensive unit. On those rare times when they were defeated, Merlin often took it hard.

For fifteen years, Merlin played with the Rams and was selected to the Pro Bowl every year but one, for a record fourteen times—Bruce Matthews later tied Merlin’s record. Also, for five straight years, from 1966 through 1970, he was a unanimous choice for the all-NFL team. In addition, the Rams honored him twice as their most valuable player (1970 and 1972). The immensely successful Merlin had lived up to the greatness predicted for him. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

Continuing the Story

In 1976, Merlin retired. After earning a master’s degree in economics, he became a public relations executive and bought a car dealership. He also directed a number of charities. In 1987, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) presented him with the Silver Anniversary Award.

Retired athletes often disappear from the public eye, but Merlin remained highly visible. He began a successful acting career, appearing in several films and television shows. He portrayed farmer Jonathan Garvey in the television series The Little House on the Prairie. Merlin also did a considerable amount of work as a corporate representative, including television advertisements for companies.

Merlin was especially visible as a sports analyst/commentator for major television networks. His preparation for a sports event was characteristically thorough. He visited players in training rooms and locker rooms and watched game films endlessly, taking copious notes. Merlin earned top ratings as a broadcaster, just as he had always done at school and on the playing field. He demonstrated a remarkable talent, intelligence, and versatility.

Summary

Merlin Olsen was one of football’s greatest defensive tackles, not only because of his enormous size but also because of his agility and speed. He was a cornerstone of the Fearsome Foursome and was selected to play in a fourteen consecutive Pro Bowls—a record he shares with hall-of-famer Bruce Matthews. Even in retirement he excelled at a number of different challenges and managed to make the most of his many gifts.

Bibliography

Barber, Phil. “NFL: Football’s One Hundred Greatest Players—The Hit Men.” The Sporting News 223 (November 1, 1999): 12-16.

Carroll, Bob. Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. New York: HarperCollins, 1999.

Chen, Albert. “The Fearsome Foursome.” Sports Illustrated 95, no. 1 (July 2, 2001): 114.

Zimmerman, Paul. “Gangs of Four.” Sports Illustrated 83, no. 15 (October 6, 1995): 66-73.