Jeff Siemon, a 1972 first-round draft pick of the Vikings who made four Pro Bowls in 11 seasons with Minnesota, died Saturday at the age of 75, the team announced.
Siemon donned No. 50 throughout his career and was aptly named one of the 50 Greatest Vikings by the franchise in 2010. He started three Super Bowls for the Vikings, providing hard-hitting speed at linebacker behind the Purple People Eaters defensive line, and to this day ranks third in franchise history with 1,375 career tackles.
Born in Rochester, Minnesota, Siemon attended high school in California and went on to Stanford, where he was an All-American in 1971. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
The '72 draft brought him back to Minnesota to join the Vikings on the heels of a stretch of four straight playoff trips by the club.
The Vikings missed the postseason during Siemon's rookie year but regained form in short order as he blossomed along with their defense, going on to reach the playoffs in eight of his next 10 seasons, including three Super Bowl trips from 1973-1976.
His biggest postseason highlights came amid the team's run to a berth in Super Bowl VIII, as Siemon recovered a fumble during Minnesota's opening playoff win over Washington and subsequently intercepted Roger Staubach to help the Vikings dispatch the Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game.
A starter of 124 games with 156 total appearances, Siemon finished his career in Minnesota as a rotational player in 1982, retiring with 11 career interceptions and 11 career fumble recoveries.