Paul Krause
NFL career interceptions leader with 81 picks, eight-time Pro Bowler, and Hall of Fame safety.
Paul James Krause (born February 19, 1942) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins. He led the league with 12 interceptions as a rookie before going on to set the NFL career interceptions record with 81 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Krause was selected eight times to the Pro Bowl during his 16 seasons in the NFL.
- role
- Safety
- team
- Minnesota Vikings
- years_active
- 1962-1978
- interceptions_record
- 81 Career Interceptions (NFL Record)
- pro_bowls
- 10 Selections
- hall_of_fame
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2005)
Lore & Background
Krause attended and played high school football at Bendle High School in Burton, Michigan, and earned all-state honors in basketball, football, baseball and track. He attended and played college football at the University of Iowa, where he was a two-way starter as a wide receiver, running back, and defensive back. He also played baseball at Iowa and earned All-American honors as a sophomore, but turned down a major league offer. His chances to play professional baseball ended when he injured his shoulder in his junior year playing football against the University of Michigan.
In Their Own Story
The wind howled off the frozen tundra at Metropolitan Stadium in late November, 1967. The crowd was a sea of purple and gold, breath visible in the cold air. Paul Krause adjusted his helmet, eyes locked on the quarterback's stance. He didn't need to see the ball; he knew where it would go. As the pass spiraled through the icy air, Krause stepped into its path, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with a single, silent motion.
Reader's Guide
Krause was drafted 18th overall in the second round of the 1964 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. In his rookie season, he led the NFL in interceptions with 12 and was named to the All-NFL first team. He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings for linebacker Marlin McKeever and a seventh-round draft choice in the 1968 NFL draft. He played with the Vikings until he retired after the 1979 season, appearing in all four of the Vikings' Super Bowl appearances (Super Bowl IV, VIII, IX, and XI). He set the NFL career interceptions record with 81, which he returned for 1,185 yards and three touchdowns. He also recovered 19 fumbles, returning them for 163 yards and three touchdowns.
Did You Know?
- Krause once scored 78 points in a high school basketball game.
- He was one of 11 players to play in all four of the Vikings' Super Bowl appearances.
- He recorded an interception in Super Bowl IV and a fumble recovery in Super Bowl IX.
- Krause is the seventh (and currently last) player in pro football history to have two 10-interception seasons.
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