Harry Peter "Bud" Grant Jr. was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). Grant was head coach of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings for 18 seasons; he was the team's second (1967–83) and fourth (1985) head coach, leading them to four Super Bowl appearances, 11 division titles, one league championship and three National Football Conference championships. Before coaching the Vikings, he was the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for 10 seasons, winning the Grey Cup four times.
James Edward Finks was an American professional football player, coach, and executive.
Anthony Ronald Yary is an American former professional football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL), primarily for the Minnesota Vikings, and also for the Los Angeles Rams. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. Yary gave credit for his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction to his former coaches, John Ashton John McKay (college) and Bud Grant (professional). He also praised his position coaches Marv Goux, Dave Levy, John Michaels and Jerry Burns.
Obafemi Devin Ayanbadejo is an American former professional football player who was a running back, fullback and special teams player in the National Football League (NFL) and United Football League (UFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 1997. In 1998 as a member of the Vikings, he was allocated to the England Monarchs of the NFL Europe. Ayanbadejo also played for the Baltimore Ravens (1999–2002), Miami Dolphins (2002–2003), Arizona Cardinals 2004–2007), and Chicago Bears (2007) of the NFL, as well as the California Redwoods (2009) of the UFL. He played college football at San Diego State.
Erasmus James is a Kittitan-born former American football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, and earned consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft. He also played for the Washington Redskins, as well as for the New Mexico Stars of the Indoor Football League (IFL).
Brooks Michael Bollinger is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. He also was a member of the Florida Tuskers in the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers.
Joliet Catholic Academy is a coed Catholic high school in Joliet, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet. One of the oldest Catholic high schools in the Chicago area, Joliet Catholic is perhaps best known for its prowess in football. Since the advent of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state football playoffs in 1974, JCA is tied for most State Championships with 15.
William Dorsey Brown was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, including 13 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini. He was named to the Pro Bowl four times with the Vikings.
Bobby Bryant is an American former football cornerback who played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Jarrad Matthew Page is a former American football safety and professional baseball outfielder. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL draft and also played for the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings. He played baseball for the San Francisco Giants organization. He played college football and college baseball at UCLA.
Kevin Joseph Kasper is an American former professional football wide receiver of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL draft. He played college football at Iowa.
Paul Burmeister Paul Burmeister is an American sportscaster with NBC Sports and NBC Olympics, working primarily as a play-by-play voice and studio host across a wide range of platforms. Prior to his arrival at NBC in 2014, he spent a decade at NFL Network as a studio host.
John Scott Studwell , nicknamed "Stud", is an American former football linebacker who played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Robert Melville Lee is an American former football quarterback and punter. He played college football for Arizona State, CCSF and Pacific. He was selected 441st overall in the 1968 NFL/AFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Rams.
Kurt L. Knoff is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers and the Minnesota Vikings.
Terry Jerome LeCount is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. LeCount played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings of the NFL.
Noel Charles Jenke was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for three different teams during the 1971 through 1974 seasons. Before playing professional football, Jenke was a minor league baseball player in the Boston Red Sox organization.
Michael Lenere Jones is an American former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). A native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Jones was a three-sport star and high school all-American amassing several state championships for Warren Harding High School. He attended the University of Michigan on a football and baseball scholarship. While at Harding he played football, basketball and baseball winning 9 total state championships and was a high school All-American in all three sports. He was a 4 time all state basketball, football and 2 time baseball player.
Paul James Krause is an American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins. Gifted with a great frame, speed and range, Krause established himself as a defensive force against opposing wide receivers. 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 and is considered to be among the greatest safeties in NFL history.
Scott Jeffery Kellar is a former American football nose tackle who played two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Colts in the fifth round of the 1986 NFL draft. He played college football at Northern Illinois University and attended Lake Park High School in Roselle, Illinois. Kellar was also a member of the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Ottawa Rough Riders.
