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Merlin Olsen, 1975
Photo: Robert Lachman, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Defensive tackle, Utah State, 1959–⁠61

Merlin Olsen

Lettered 1959–⁠61 (school media guide)

Born
Sep 15, 1940, in Logan, Utah
Died
Mar 11, 2010, in City of Hope National Medical Center, California

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Merlin Olsen played defensive tackle at Utah State (1959–⁠61). He won the 1961 Outland Trophy. He finished 10th in the 1961 Heisman vote and was a consensus All‑American in 1961. The Los Angeles Rams took Olsen in the first round, No. 3 overall in the 1962 NFL Draft. The Denver Broncos also took him in the first round, No. 2 overall in the 1962 AFL Draft. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Best season
1961
Outland Trophy and Consensus All-American
Heisman vote
10th
In the 1961 vote
Drafted
No. 3
Overall, 1962 NFL Draft (Los Angeles Rams)

Honors

Team titles: Skyline champions, 1960 and 1961

All-America: consensus 1961; FWAA 1960; NEA 1960; AFCA third team 1960; UPI third team 1960

The teams in those years

Our player records start in 2004; before that they hold the honors, the Heisman vote and the draft (from 1936), with college years from the player’s Wikipedia article where it gives them.

Before the draft

MVP of the 1962 Hula Bowl.

Rosters and honors: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

In the NFL

Pro Bowls: 14 (1962–⁠75) · First-team All-Pro (AP): 3 (1967–⁠68, 1970) · Second-team All-Pro (AP): 4 (1963–⁠65, 1973)

All-Pro teams: AP first team 1967–⁠68, 1970; AP second team 1963–⁠65, 1973; Pro Football Writers first team 1968, 1970; Pro Football Writers second team 1974; NEA first team 1968, 1970; Pro Football Weekly first team 1968, 1970; and 2 more.

Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams by NFL season: rosters and honors, Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

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