Alan Page Defensive Player of the Year
First defensive player to win AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1971) and AP NFL MVP (1971)
Alan Cedric Page (born August 7, 1945) is an American former Minnesota Supreme Court judge and professional football player. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame and was a defensive tackle in the NFL for 15 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.
- Years Active (Vikings)
- 1967–1978 (traded to Chicago Bears during 1978 season)
Lore & Background
Page was the first defensive player in NFL history to win the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award (1971) and also won the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award in 1971. Only Lawrence Taylor has since won MVP as a defensive player. Page is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame (1993) and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988). He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018.
In Their Own Story
The stadium lights hummed over Metropolitan Stadium as the fourth quarter wore on. Page lined up against a double-team, his helmet low, eyes locked behind the visor. With a sudden burst of power, he shed both blockers, surging into the backfield to meet the runner before he could turn. The hit was clean, decisive, and echoed through the crowd—a reminder that in Minnesota, the defense ruled supreme.
Reader's Guide
Page played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1967 through part of the 1978 season, when he was traded to the Chicago Bears. He played for the Bears from 1978 through 1981. He is one of 11 Vikings to have played in all four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX, XI). Page was a right defensive tackle and a member of the Vikings' 'Purple People Eaters.' He played in 218 consecutive games, recorded 148½ sacks (108½ with Vikings, 40 with Bears), recovered 22 fumbles, scored three touchdowns, recorded three safeties, and blocked 23 kicks.
Did You Know?
- Page was the first defensive player to win the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
- He earned a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1978 while still playing for the Vikings.
- Page served as an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1993 until mandatory retirement at age 70 in 2015.
- He founded the Page Education Foundation in 1988 with his wife Diane.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the only Viking to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice?
Alan Page holds this unique distinction, earning the league's top defensive honor on two separate occasions.
What position did Alan Page play when receiving these awards?
He dominated as a defensive tackle, using both strength and intelligence to stop opposing offenses.
During which years was Alan Page active with the Minnesota Vikings?
His tenure in purple spanned from his debut in 1967 until he departed the franchise in 1974.
Did Alan Page receive Hall of Fame recognition for his career?
Yes, his on-field impact was significant enough to earn him induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
What did Alan Page do professionally after retiring from football?
He pursued a legal career and later served as an associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.
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Elsewhere in the Minnesota Vikings universe
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