Jeff Siemon, a 1972 first-round pick of the Vikings who made four Pro Bowls in 11 seasons with Minnesota, died Saturday at age 75, the team announced.
Siemon finished 50th overall in his career and was rightfully named one of the 50 best Vikings in 2010. He made three Super Bowl starts for the Vikings, providing a hard rush at quarterback behind the Purple People Eaters’ defensive line, and to this day ranks third all-time with 1,375 tackles.
Born in Rochester, Minnesota, Siemon attended high school in California and attended Stanford, where he was an All-American in 1971. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
The ’72 draft brought him back to Minnesota to join the Vikings after four straight trips to the playoffs.
The Vikings missed the postseason in Siemon’s rookie year but quickly rebounded as he flourished with the defense and went to the playoffs in eight of his next 10 seasons, including three Super Bowl trips from 1973-1976.
His biggest postseason highlights came during the team’s run to Super Bowl VIII, where Siemon caught a fumble in Minnesota’s opening win over Washington and then intercepted Roger Staubach to help the Vikings send the Cowboys to the NFC Championship Game.
Siemon started 124 games with 156 total tackles, and finished his Minnesota career as a replacement in 1982, retiring with 11 career interceptions and 11 career fumble recoveries.