52 Facts About Merlin Olsen

Merlin Jay Olsen was an American football player, announcer, and actor.

In 1961, Olsen received the Outland Trophy, awarded to as the best lineman of the year in college football.

Merlin Olsen is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Merlin Olsen was born in Logan, Utah, where his parents Merle Barrus and Lynn Jay Olsen graduated from Utah State University and began their careers.

Merlin Olsen's father was a professor at the university while his mother had graduated in elementary education.

Merlin Olsen was the second of nine siblings and the first-born son.

Later, Merlin Olsen turned down a football scholarship to Stanford University to play for USU.

Merlin Olsen attended Utah State University where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and was a three-year letterman in football as a defensive tackle.

Merlin Olsen graduated from the College of Business and Social Sciences at USU with a bachelor's degree in finance in 1962 and a master's degree in economics in 1971.

Merlin Olsen later received an honorary doctorate degree in business from the Huntsman School.

The Aggie defense Merlin Olsen anchored as a senior gave up an average of 50.8 rushing yards, 88.6 passing yards, and 139.4 total yards which all still stand as school records for defense.

Merlin Olsen was a member of the Utah State University chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity, which has an annual Merlin Olsen Day of Service named in his honor where brothers are encouraged to give back to their communities.

Merlin Olsen played in the East-West Shrine Game in 1961 and in 2003 was voted to the game's Hall of Fame.

Merlin Olsen played in the Hula Bowl after his senior season and was voted MVP of the game.

Merlin Olsen is a member of the State of Utah's Sports Hall of Fame, the Utah State University Sports Hall of Fame and USU's All-Century Football Team.

Merlin Olsen was voted to the All-Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1988.

In 2008, Merlin Olsen was named to the 75th Anniversary All-Sun Bowl Team to commemorate the Sun Bowl Association's Diamond Anniversary.

Merlin Olsen chose the security of the NFL and signed with the Rams.

Merlin Olsen was the first USU Aggie to be drafted in the 1st round of the NFL draft.

Merlin Olsen played professionally for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League.

Merlin Olsen was named the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 1962 and was First-team All-Pro in 1964, and 1966 through 1970.

Merlin Olsen was voted Second-team All-Pro in 1965,1973 and 1974.

Merlin Olsen almost ended up on offense, but was later moved to the defensive line after a few experiments in practice.

Merlin Olsen was named the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Week for week 12 in 1965.

Merlin Olsen's play helped the Rams to the playoffs in 1967 and 1969.

Merlin Olsen was voted the club's Outstanding Defensive Lineman from 1967 to 1970 by the Los Angeles Rams Alumni.

In 1973 Merlin Olsen was voted the NFLPA NFC Defensive Lineman of the Year and the next season, 1974, he was the recipient of Bert Bell Award as the NFL MVP as voted by the Maxwell Club.

Merlin Olsen accepted the award "on behalf of all who toil in the NFL trenches".

Merlin Olsen made the Pro Bowl a then-record 14 times, missing it only in his final year.

Merlin Olsen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982 in his first year of eligibility; he selected his college position coach Tony Knap as his presenter.

In 1999, Merlin Olsen was ranked 25th on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

Merlin Olsen enjoyed continued success after the NFL as a broadcaster, actor, and businessman.

Merlin Olsen worked Super Bowl XIII in 1979 with Curt Gowdy and John Brodie.

In 1989, Merlin Olsen was replaced by Bill Walsh as NBC's lead NFL color commentator.

Merlin Olsen appeared as the character Little George in the John Wayne movie, The Undefeated, with Rams teammate Roman Gabriel, in 1969.

When Little House on the Prairie actor Victor French left to star in his own comedy Carter Country in 1977, Merlin Olsen was tapped to play Michael Landon's new sidekick Jonathan Garvey for several years.

Merlin Olsen's last acting work was in the short-lived 1988 TV series Aaron's Way.

Merlin Olsen was the commercial spokesman for FTD Florists for many years.

Merlin Olsen donated one of his cleats, which were bronzed, to be used during the annual football rivalry between two Las Vegas high schools, Eldorado High School and Chaparral High School, which both opened in 1973.

Each year, Merlin Olsen presented the "trophy" in the ceremony at the rivalry game.

Merlin Olsen often co-hosted the Children's Miracle Network telethons, a humanitarian organization founded in 1983 by Marie Osmond and John Schneider.

Merlin Olsen was named the Walter Camp Man of the Year in 1982 and Athlete of the Century for the state of Utah.

In 1979, Merlin Olsen was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.

In 1980, Merlin Olsen was inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame.

In 1998, Merlin Olsen was inducted into the Utah Tourism Hall of Fame.

Merlin Olsen was voted to the California Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2010, along with Bill Walton, Dwight Stones, and Jim Otto, among others.

In 1983, Merlin Olsen served as Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade.

On March 30,1962, Merlin Olsen married Susan Wakley, a fellow USU student.

Merlin Olsen was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a resident of San Marino, California.

Merlin Olsen was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2009, and underwent three courses of chemotherapy.

Merlin Olsen died on March 11,2010, at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California, at the age of 69.

Merlin Olsen is buried at San Gabriel Cemetery in San Gabriel, California.