Ron Yary

Last updated

Ron Yary
No. 73
Position: Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1946-07-16) July 16, 1946 (age 77)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school: Bellflower
(Bellflower, California)
College: USC (1965–1967)
NFL draft: 1968  / Round: 1 / Pick:  1
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:207
Games started:180
Fumble recoveries:2
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Anthony Ronald Yary (born July 16, 1946) is an American former 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 (high school) John McKay (college) and Bud Grant (professional). He also praised his position coaches Marv Goux, Dave Levy, John Michaels and Jerry Burns. [1]

Contents

Early life

Yary attended Bellflower High School in Los Angeles County, California, and then spent one season at Cerritos College in 1964. In October 2001, the school named the football field Ron Yary Stadium. While attending Bellflower High School, Yary starred in football, baseball, and basketball.

College career

Yary was born in Chicago and attended Cerritos College in the fall semester of 1964. He then in the spring semester of (1965) transferred to the University of Southern California, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. As a sophomore in 1965, Yary was voted the Pac-8 defensive lineman of the year and All-West Coast for his play at defensive tackle. As a junior, he was moved to the offensive line where he was a consensus All-American as a junior in 1966 [2] and a unanimous All-American choice in 1967, [3] his senior year. He was the 1967 winner of both the Outland Trophy [4] and the Knute Rockne Award, awards that annually go to the nation's top collegiate lineman. Yary was the first USC Trojan to win the Outland. In Yary's senior year of 1967 the Trojans won the NCAA football national championship under Coach John McKay. During Yary's three seasons, the Trojans compiled a 24-7-1 record. In 1987 Yary was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 30, 2012, representing USC.

Professional career

Yary was the first overall pick of the 1968 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings, who had traded Fran Tarkenton to the New York Giants for that selection, becoming the first offensive lineman ever to be selected first overall. He played from 1968 to 1981 with the Minnesota Vikings, and 1982 with the Los Angeles Rams. During Yary's tenure with the Vikings, the team won 11 division titles. During that period, Minnesota won the 1969 NFL championship and NFC titles in 1973, 1974 and 1976, and played in Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX and XI where Yary was one of 11 Players to have played in all four games for the Vikings. Yary was named All-Pro 6 consecutive seasons (1971–76) and 2nd Team All-Pro in 1970 and 1977 and was an All-NFC choice from 1970 through 1977. He played in seven consecutive Pro Bowls, and was a major force in a Minnesota team that was highly successful throughout the 1970s. In addition to his All-pro honors, Yary was voted the NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year three times (1973–75) by the NFLPA and was named the NFL Outstanding Blocker of the Year by the 1,000 yard Club for 1975.

Yary won the starting right tackle job (military duty forced him to miss first three games) on the Vikings offensive line in his second season and remained as a fixture at that spot throughout his Minnesota tenure. He was voted to the 1970s All-Decade First Team after the 1979 season.

Yary was also durable and played in spite of injuries. He missed only two games due to injuries—both coming in 1980 with a broken ankle—in 14 years in Minnesota. Later that same year, he continued to play in spite of a broken foot. He was inducted to the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2000. He became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He was the last offensive lineman to ever be drafted first overall until Orlando Pace was selected by Rams in 1997.

Personal life

Yary is married to his wife Jamie and has two sons, Jack (born 2001) and Grant (born 2005) and a daughter, Kinley (born c. 2010). Yary resides in Murrieta, California, and once co-owned a sports photography business with his brother Wayne, who bought Ron out in 2001. [5] His son Jack was a tight end for Murrieta Valley High School, and was committed to play at University of Washington before dropping out of the program.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Eller</span> American football player (born 1942)

Carl Eller is an American former professional football player who played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 through 1979. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple People Eaters</span> 1960s and 1970s NFL defensive line for the Minnesota Vikings

The Purple People Eaters was a nickname for the defensive line of the Minnesota Vikings from 1967 to 1977, consisting mainly of Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, Gary Larsen, and Doug Sutherland.

Robert Stanford Brown, nicknamed "the Boomer", was an American football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 through 1973. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning unanimous All-American honors. Brown was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the second overall pick in the 1964 NFL draft. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, he played for the Eagles from 1964 to 1968, the Los Angeles Rams from 1969 to 1970, and the Oakland Raiders from 1971 to 1973. Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Browner</span> American football player (born 1960)

Joey Matthew Browner is an American former football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings from 1983 to 1991 and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992. Browner played college football for the USC Trojans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orlando Pace</span> American football player (born 1975)

Orlando Lamar Pace is an American former football offensive tackle who played for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the St. Louis Rams. Pace played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he twice received unanimous All-American honors, and was selected by the Rams first overall in the 1997 NFL draft. He spent all but one season of his professional career in St. Louis, concluding his NFL tenure as a member of the Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merlin Olsen</span> American football player, announcer, and actor (1940–2010)

Merlin Jay Olsen was an American 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 the former offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, the former tight end Tony Gonzalez, the former quarterback Peyton Manning, and former quarterback Tom Brady, who is the only NFL player to have played more times in the Pro Bowl, with 15 selections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Youngblood</span> American football player (born 1950)

Herbert Jackson Youngblood III is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He was a five-time consensus All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Before playing professionally, Youngblood played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as an All-American. He is considered among the best players Florida ever produced—a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and one of only six Florida Gators to be named to the Gator Football Ring of Honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Mack</span> American football player (born 1943)

Thomas Lee Mack is an American former football guard who played for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rayfield Wright</span> American football player (1945-2022)

Larry Rayfield Wright was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Hutchinson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1977)

Steven John Hutchinson is an American former football guard who played for twelve seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, and was named a unanimous All-American. The Seattle Seahawks selected him in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft, and he also played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Tennessee Titans. A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Bostic</span> American football player (born 1958)

Jeffrey Lynn Bostic is an American former professional football player who was a center for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers. Named to the Pro Bowl in 1983, Bostic won three Super Bowls with the Redskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Brooks (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1950)

Lawrence Lee Brooks Sr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Brooks played college football for the Virginia State Trojans and was selected in the 14th round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Rams. He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

The 1968 NFL/AFL draft was part of the common draft, in the second year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players. It took place at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York City on January 30–31, 1968.

Herbert Carnell Scott is an American former professional football player who was a guard and offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Union Panthers, earning All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association three times.

Todd Edward Steussie is an American former professional football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft with the 19th overall pick. Steussie played for the Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and St. Louis Rams.

James Carl Vellone was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). Vellone spent his entire five-year career for the Minnesota Vikings, starting in most of his appearances during this span. Vellone helped the Vikings win the 1969 NFL Championship and also started in Super Bowl IV, the first Super Bowl appearance for the Vikings franchise. Vellone's career and life were cut short due to Hodgkin's lymphoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983 Minnesota Vikings season</span> NFL team season

The 1983 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 23rd in the National Football League (NFL), and their 17th under head coach Bud Grant. After starting 6–2, the Vikings lost six of their next seven – including a home loss to the 0–9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – and were eliminated from playoff contention with one week to play.

Todd Alexander Kalis is a former American football player in the National Football League (NFL). He was an offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings (1988–1993), the Pittsburgh Steelers (1994) and the Cincinnati Bengals (1995).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Kalil</span> American football player (born 1989)

Matthew Francis Kalil is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings fourth overall in the 2012 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthews family</span> Prominent family of professional American football players

The Matthews family is a prominent family in American football. One of only five third-generation families to play in the National Football League (NFL), it is often called the "NFL's First Family". Its seven members who have played in the NFL have combined for 25 Pro Bowl invitations, 11 first-team All-Pro selections, and three Super Bowl appearances.

References

  1. ↑ PFBHOF.com
  2. ↑ Infoplease.com
  3. ↑ nfoplease.com
  4. ↑ "FWAA website". Archived from the original on January 2, 2009. Retrieved April 20, 2007.
  5. ↑ Craig, Mark (May 12, 2007). "So long, SoCal? Yary wants back in the Twin Cities". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on May 15, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2007.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.