Merlin Olsen
Merlin Olsen
Merlin Jay Olsen was an American football player, announcer, and actor. He played his entire 15-year professional football career in National Football Leagueas a defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams. He was selected to the Pro Bowl a record 14 straight times, missing selection only in the last year of his career. This record of 14 seasons selected to play in the Pro Bowl, consecutive or otherwise, is current and shared with former offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, former tight...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionFootball Player
Date of Birth15 September 1940
CityLogan, UT
CountryUnited States of America
Merlin Olsen quotes about
Our whole philosophy was to intimidate the quarterback. We were able to do it. We were pioneers. People still recognize us as, maybe, the best defensive line of all time.
I bet I made close to 20 tackles because nobody on either side knew what they were doing.
Team doctors' jobs those days were to keep you on the field.
When a man lies, he murders some part of the world.
I can ski out of my back door.
It took me a while to realize that basketball wasn't football.
I just wanted to be an athlete.
Nobody cared about swimming. You could draw a crowd for basketball.
I probably played hurt a lot more times than I should have.
I was always the last one chosen for football games in Central Park.
I was captain and should have set the example. I would lift a minimum of weights. Mine was natural physical strength. I always thought quickness and agility were much more important.
I've caught fish as big as I am. I've caught marlin close to 300 pounds.
Sigma Chi was a learning experience for me in personal growth, in finding out more about myself, in shaping my life more effectively, and in directing my energies more efficiently. All of those things were heavily influenced by my Sigma Chi experience. There is no question that that has had a tremendous impact on my career, profesionally and on my life.
Our coach was absolutely out of his head. He must have read Bear Bryant's book. We had 78 players out. The first day 35 quit. Twenty quit the second day. We ended with 17 players. It was depressing.