Carl Eller

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Eller was born on January 25, 1942, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He attended Atkins High School, where his team won the 1959 state football championship. He was recruited to the University of Minnesota by head coach Murray Warmath, on the recommendation of Bobby Bell. Eller played defensive tackle from 1961 to 1963, and was voted All-American in 1962 and 1963. As a sophomore, he starred in the 1962 Rose Bowl victory over UCLA. He was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings in 1964. As the left defensive end in the Vikings front four, he was a major factor in the unit known as the 'Purple People Eaters.' He played in four Super Bowls with the Vikings. He was selected to six Pro Bowls. He played his final season in 1979 with the Seattle Seahawks. He is credited as the Vikings' all-time sack leader with 130½. He recovered 23 fumbles during his career. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

In Their Own Story

In 1964, Eller was drafted by the Vikings (6th overall) and the Buffalo Bills (5th overall), signing with Minnesota to become the left defensive end in the legendary 'Purple People Eaters.' Starting his fifth campaign in 1968, he helped the team win 10 Central Division titles in 11 seasons. The Vikings captured the NFL Championship in 1969 before losing Super Bowl IV to Kansas City, and later won NFC Championships in 1973, 1974, and 1976, falling short in each subsequent Super Bowl. Eller was one of just 11 players to appear in all four of those games. His dominance continued with six Pro Bowls (1968–1971, 1973, 1974) and a nine-year consecutive streak of post-season honors from 1967 to 1975. In 1969 and 1977, he set career highs with 15 sacks each year, amassing seven seasons with double-digit sacks. He recovered 23 fumbles throughout his career. After a trade involving an eighth-round pick and Steve Niehaus, Eller finished his 16-year career in 1979 with the Seattle Seahawks, playing 225 games total (starting 209) with only three missed games.

Reader's Guide

Eller won the Bronko Nagurski Award as the University of Minnesota's team most valuable player in 1963. He was the runner-up for the Outland Trophy in 1963. He was first-team All-NFL from 1968 to 1971, and again in 1973. He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1970s All-Decade Team. He was voted the winner of the George Halas Trophy in 1971 as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He was named to the Vikings' 40th Anniversary Team in 2000 and to the Vikings' 50th Anniversary team in 2010. The Carl Eller Award is given to the University of Minnesota's Defensive Player of the Year. He was inducted into the University of Minnesota's M Club Hall of Fame in 1992.

Did You Know?

• Eller was one of 11 Vikings to play in all four of their Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX, XI).
• Eller's sack totals for 1969 and 1977 are unverifiable because sacks were not an official NFL statistic until 1982.
• Eller earned the nickname 'Moose' while playing sandlot football.