The Purple People Eaters was a nickname for the defensive line of the Minnesota Vikings from 1967 to 1977, consisting mainly of Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, and Gary Larsen.
The term is a reference to a popular song from 1958, the efficiency of the defense, and the color of their uniforms. The motto of the Purple People Eaters was "Meet at the quarterback."[1]
The Purple People Eaters mainly consisted of:
- Defensive tackle Alan Page, 9 Pro Bowl selections (1968–1976), NFL MVP (1971), Pro Football Hall of Fame[2]
- Defensive end Carl Eller, 6 Pro Bowl selections (1968–1971, 1973–1974), Pro Football Hall of Fame[3]
- Defensive end Jim Marshall, 2 Pro Bowl selections (1968–1969)[4]
- Defensive tackle Gary Larsen, 2 Pro Bowl selections (1969–1970)[5]
Larsen was replaced in 1974 by Doug Sutherland.[6]
Marshall said that the players disliked the name "Purple People Eaters" and called themselves "The Purple Gang", but "we've got to ride with it because it's our handle".[7] The group was a major factor in the post-season success of the Vikings from the late 1960s through the 1970s.[8] The Purple People Eaters were one of the most identifiable front fours in National Football League history, 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, the "New York Sack Exchange" of the New York Jets during the 1980s, and the “Monsters of the Midway" of the Chicago Bears during the 1980s.
Eller and Page were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Many fans, players, coaches and sportswriters argue that Jim Marshall should be in the Hall of Fame as well.[9]
- ^ "Football: The Four Norsemen". TIME Magazine. October 17, 1969. Archived from the original on November 23, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^ "Alan Page". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ "Carl Eller". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ "Jim Marshall". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ "Gary Larsen". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ "The List: Best sports unit nickname of all time". Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ Corbett, Jim (January 24, 2015). "Seahawks' 'Legion of Boom' latest of legendary nicknames". USA Today. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
- ^ "Minnesota Vikings". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ "Top Ten Not in HOF: Jim Marshall". NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved May 28, 2011.