Merlin Olsen

Defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams, Pro Football Hall of Famer, and actor.

Merlin Jay Olsen (September 15, 1940 – March 11, 2010) was an American professional football player, announcer, and actor. For his entire 15-year professional football career, he was a defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl 14 times — every year but his last. The only other football players to have matched or exceeded that number are Bruce Matthews, Tony Gonzalez, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady, who is the only NFL player to have played more times in the Pro Bowl, with 15 selections.

In 1961, Olsen received the Outland Trophy, awarded to as the best lineman of the year in college football. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. As an actor, he portrayed farmer Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie. He later starred in the drama series Father Murphy. Olsen also was active as a commentator on football broadcasts.

Quick Facts

Position: Defensive tackle
Born: 15 September 1940
Birthplace: Logan, Utah, U.S.
Died: 11 March 2010
Place of death: Duarte, California, U.S.
High school: Logan
College: Utah State (1959–1961)
Draft year: 1962

Lore & Background

Merlin Olsen was born in Logan, Utah, where his parents, Merle Barrus and Lynn Jay Olsen, graduated from Utah State University (USU) and began their careers. His father was a professor at the university while his mother had graduated in elementary education. Merlin was the second of nine siblings and the eldest of three brothers. The family opened their home to host, feed, sleep, or tutor anyone in the neighborhood.

Merlin pursued athletics in high school but was cut from the basketball team while in grade 9, told by the coach that athletics wasn't for him and that he should take up the arts. Later, Olsen turned down a football scholarship to Stanford University to play for USU. Classmate Ross Peterson described him as a 'natural, big, strong leader ... he could have been successful at anything'. His brothers Phil and Orrin also played football in the NFL; Merlin and Phil played together for the Los Angeles Rams from 1971 to 1974.

Reader's Guide

Olsen attended Utah State University, where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and was a three-year letterman in football as a defensive tackle. He graduated from the College of Business and Social Sciences at USU with a bachelor's degree in finance in 1962 and a master's degree in economics in 1971. He later received an honorary doctorate degree in business from the Huntsman School. In football, as a senior, he was a consensus All-America selection and was the winner of the Outland Trophy.

After Olsen's junior year in 1960, he was also named All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and Newspaper Enterprise Association. He was also All-Conference in both 1960 and 1961. Olsen and Utah State were in the 1960 Sun Bowl, losing to New Mexico State, 20–13. Led by Olsen, the Aggie defense held the New Mexico State Aggies to just 44 rushing yards on 32 carries.

The Aggie defense Olsen anchored as a senior gave up an average of 50.8 rushing yards (which led the nation), 88.6 passing yards, and 139.4 total yards which all still stand as school records for defense. The 1961 Aggie defense gave up an average 7.8 points a game, which is second in team history behind Olsen's 1960 team, which allowed 6.5 points per game. Additionally, the Aggie defense held four opponents to less than 100 total yards. One, the Idaho Vandals, was held to a school-record 23 total yards, with the Aggies winning 69–0.

The Aggies, not known as a national power football program, finished 10th in both the AP and UPI post-season polls, the only time that has occurred in school history. The Aggies had a combined 18–3–1 record during Olsen's junior and senior seasons under coach John Ralston and were conference champions those two seasons as well. The Sigma Chi fraternity has an annual Merlin Olsen Day of Service named in his honor, where brothers are encouraged to give back to their communities.

Olsen played in the East-West Shrine Game in 1961 and in 2003 was voted to the game's Hall of Fame. He also played in the Hula Bowl after his senior season and was voted MVP of the game. Olsen is a member of the State of Utah's Sports Hall of Fame, the Utah State University Sports Hall of Fame and USU's All-Century Football Team. In 2000, he was selected by Sports Illustrated as one of the State of Utah's Top 50 Athletes of the Century.

Early Life and College Dominance

Born in Logan, Utah, to Merle Barrus and Lynn Jay Olsen, Merlin was the second of nine siblings. His father served as a professor at Utah State University (USU), while his mother graduated in elementary education. The family was known for opening their home to host or tutor neighbors. Although cut from the high school basketball team in grade 9, Olsen became a three-year letterman and consensus All-America selection at USU. He won the Outland Trophy in 1961 and was named All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and Newspaper Enterprise Association after his junior year. The Aggie defense he anchored set school records for fewest rushing yards (50.8 per game) and total yards allowed. In 1960, they held Idaho to a record-low 23 total yards in a 69–0 victory. Olsen graduated summa cum laude with a finance degree in 1962 and later earned a master's in economics in 1971.

The Fearsome Foursome and NFL Legacy

Selected by the Rams in 1962, Olsen chose the NFL over the rival AFL. He played for Los Angeles from 1962 to 1976, missing only two games total. Alongside Deacon Jones, Rosey Grier, and Lamar Lundy, he formed 'The Fearsome Foursome' in 1963. Olsen frequently drew double or triple teams, freeing up Jones for one-on-one matchups. His play helped the Rams win NFC West titles from 1973 to 1976, with the team ranking first in run defense in 1973 and 1974. In 1972, he recorded 11 sacks. He was named NFLPA NFC Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1973 and won the Bert Bell Award (NFL MVP) in 1974. Olsen made 14 Pro Bowls, missing only his final year. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

Transition to Entertainment

After retiring from football, Olsen became a color commentator for NBC's AFC coverage, teaming with Dick Enberg for four Super Bowls (XV, XVII, XX, and XXIII) and nine Rose Bowls between 1980 and 1988. He also worked Super Bowl XIII in 1979 with Curt Gowdy and John Brodie. In acting, he appeared as Little George alongside Rams teammate Roman Gabriel in the 1969 film The Undefeated. He made a guest appearance on Petticoat Junction in 1970. His character's son Andy once noted, 'My pa doesn't know anything about football!' After leaving the series, he starred in his own NBC drama, Father Murphy.

Enduring Impact and Honors

Olsen is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1982) and the College Football Hall of Fame. He was named to the State of Utah's Sports Hall of Fame and USU's All-Century Football Team. In 2000, Sports Illustrated listed him as one of Utah's Top 50 Athletes of the Century. The Sigma Chi fraternity established an annual 'Merlin Olsen Day of Service' in his honor. On December 5, 2009, USU announced plans to name its football field after him during a halftime ceremony. He was also named to the 75th Anniversary All-Sun Bowl Team in 2008 and voted to the Newspaper Enterprise Association All-Time All-America team in 1969 alongside legends like Jim Thorpe and O.J. Simpson.