Best NFL Players of All Time: Alan Page Biography. Ranking the Top Players in History. Place a bet on an NFL football game now.

Best NFL Players of All Time: Alan Page Biography

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, playing against the Minnesota Vikings evoked a certain amount of anxiety.

Nestled between the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Bloomington, the Vikings fielded a roving, hard-charging, and vicious club that played in the bitter cold at the beloved but now-defunct Metropolitan Stadium.

The defense was what gave the Vikings their identity, even though Fran Tarkenton and running back Bill Brown led a tough attack.

The Vikings launched a forceful and quick attack, and although the defense performed admirably overall, the defensive line was the real NFL nightmare.

Alan Page, the defensive tackle, was the best member of that outstanding group that was known as the Purple People Eaters defense line.

Since it was not their manner to market themselves, Page and his colleagues Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, and Gary Larsen were never fond of their colorful moniker. That quartet was a competitive group that just desired to win games and get together at the quarterback position.

After Vince Lombardi left the Green Bay Packers, the Vikings of the late 1960s emerged as the NFL’s team to beat. Although Lombardi showed no fear towards opponents, it’s possible that he was aware of the plans head coach Bud Grant had for the Vikings in Minnesota.

The defense has the ability to seize control of any game and exert long-lasting dominance. They just never gave their opponents a chance to gather themselves once they launched an attack. The ability of Page to cut through the offensive line’s interior blocking and threaten the quarterback was one of the defense’s main strengths.

At the time of his first-round draft selection by the Vikings with the 15th choice, Page was widely considered an All-America performer. By the end of his rookie season, he had secured his starting spot by the fourth game of the campaign and was a mainstay in the starting lineup.

In 1967, Page was virtually unstoppable as a rookie, and he continued this trend into the 1976 season. In 1977, he began to slow down and was released; however, in 1978, the Chicago Bears selected him. He would stay in Chicago until his retirement from the game in 1981. Being a very resilient player, he never missed a match due to an injury. In all 218 games in which he was qualified to wear a uniform, he participated.

Page played at 6-4 and 245 pounds, which is modest by today’s standards. He was quite quick for his time, though, and had a respectable build. Page had won the fight if he could throw the opposing offensive linemen off balance with a hand punch, jab step, or any other form of maneuver. In little time at all, he would be on top of the quarterback and beside his guy.

Because of his exceptional play, Page was named the 1971 NFL MVP and defensive player of the year. Among defensive players in the league, he is the only one to have won MVP honors.

Because of his steady excellence, he was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a six-time first-team All-Pro player.

Although Page’s career did not include official stats for sacks, an analysis of the tape indicates that he had 108.5 sacks while with the Vikings and added 40 more during his time with the Bears. In 1976, he recorded a career-high 18 sacks; he also had six seasons in which he recorded double digit sack totals.

In his career, the extraordinarily swift Page recovered 22 fumbles, returning two of them for touchdowns. On an interception return, he added another touchdown to his total. In addition, Page was a beast on special teams, blocking 28 kicks.

Page was equally as formidable against the run as he was as a pass rusher. More than almost any other defensive lineman, he was an expert at blocking angles and leverage, and even in situations where he wasn’t in position to make the big hit, he was excellent at bringing down the ball carrier.

The Viking linebackers, along with Page and his teammates, made life difficult for opposition offenses. Apart from their explosive speed, they frequently set up quarterbacks for sacks and turnovers with their stunts.

Marshall stated to Sports Illustrated in 1969, “You gain a lot of confidence in each other when you play together like we have.” “I anticipate Page’s actions, and we respond naturally.”

The Vikings were extremely successful at their antics because of this. Page may have gestured or looked at Eller or Marshall to let them know what he was observing. They would then execute pranks or stunts that would enable the Vikings to make plays that would change the course of the game.

After his playing days ended, Page had a fantastic career as a lawyer in Minnesota. He serves as an associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court and, through his Page Education Foundation, has promoted equal access to education for all children.

Even though he’s doing admirably on the sidelines, his NFL steadiness earned him a position in the Canton Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is among the most worthy participants at that shrine.

Best NFL Players of All Time: Alan Page Stats

Regular Season

1967	22	MIN	LDT	88	14	11			0				0	3	0	0	8.5		8
1968	23	MIN	RDT/LDT	88	14	14			0				0	2	0	0	11		11
1969	24	MIN	RDT	88	14	14	0	15	1	15			0	1	0	0	9		23
1970	25	MIN	RDT	88	14	14	1	27	0	27			0	7	77	1	10.5		24
1971	26	MIN	RDT	88	14	14			0				0	3	8	0	9	2	21
1972	27	MIN	RDT	88	14	14			0								6		11
1973	28	MIN	RDT	88	14	14			0				0	1	0	0	5		16
1974	29	MIN	RDT	88	14	14			0								11		14
1975	30	MIN	RDT	88	14	14			0								13		14
1976	31	MIN	RDT	88	14	14			0				0	1	1	0	18		13
1977	32	MIN	RDT	88	14	14			0				0	1	0	0	7.5		8
1978	33	2TM	RDT		16	16			0								11.5		7
		CHI	RDT	82	10	10			0								11.5		5
		MIN	RDT	88	6	6			0								0		2
1979	34	CHI	RDT	82	16	16			0				0	1	0	0	10		8
1980	35	CHI	RDT	82	16	16	1	0	0	0			0	2	0	1	9.5	1	10
1981	36	CHI	RDT	82	16	16			0				0	1	0	0	9		9
Career					218	215	2	42	1	27			0	23	86	2	148.5	3	197
12 yrs		MIN			160	157	1	42	1	27			0	19	86	1	108.5	2	165
4 yrs		CHI			58	58	1	0	0	0			0	4	0	1	40	1	32

Playoffs

Year	Age	Tm	Pos	G	GS	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	Fmb	FR	Yds	TD	Sk	Sfty
1968	23	MIN	LDT	1	1			0			0	0	0	0	0	0
1969	24	MIN	RDT	3	3	1	29	0	29	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
1970	25	MIN	RDT	1	1			0			0	0	0	0	0	1
1971	26	MIN	RDT	1	1			0			0	0	0	0	0	1	1
1973	28	MIN	RDT	3	3			0			0	0	0	0	0	1
1974	29	MIN	RDT	3	3			0			0	0	0	0	0	1.3
1975	30	MIN	RDT	1	1			0			0	0	0	0	0	0.5
1976	31	MIN	RDT	3	3			0			0	0	0	0	0	1
1977	32	MIN	RDT	2	2			0			0	0	0	0	0	1
1979	34	CHI	RDT	1	1			0			0	0	1	0	0	0
Career				19	19	1	29	0	29	0	0	0	1	0	0	7.8	1
9 yrs		MIN		18	18	1	29	0	29	0					0	7.8	1
1 yr		CHI		1	1			0			0	0	1	0	0	0

 

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