OLSEN, Merlin Jay

(b. 15 September 1940 in Logan, Utah), professional football defensive lineman who made fourteen Pro Bowl appearances; after retiring from football he had a successful broadcasting and acting career.

Born and raised in Logan, Olsen was one of six children born to Lynn Olsen, a government worker, and Merle Barrus Olsen, a homemaker. Early in his career at Logan High School, Olsen struggled as a football player. He recalled once being asked by his high school coach if he might consider trying out for the band rather than playing football. Nevertheless, he eventually achieved both athletic and scholarly success in high school. Upon graduation from Logan High School, he enrolled at Utah State University. He chose the school, which was located in his hometown of Logan, so his parents would be able to see him play.

At Utah State he quickly established himself as a leader and distinguished himself as a football player. In his junior and senior seasons the team went 18–3–1, made two bowl appearances, and won two Skyline Conference Championships. Olsen was named first-team All-America in each of his college years and received the Outland Trophy in 1961 as the outstanding college lineman in America. During his years as a student he developed a very close relationship with his line coach, Tony Knap, who also coached future National Football League (NFL) stars Len Rhode, Clark Miller, Lionel Alridge, and Clyde Brock, all of whom played with Olsen.

At the university Olsen served two years in student government, was named the school's outstanding Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadet, and won a national award from the Sigma Chi fraternity as the nation's top undergraduate. He graduated from the College of Business in 1962 with a degree in finance and is a member of many academic fraternities. While still playing in the NFL, he returned to Utah State and received a master's degree in economics in 1970. On 30 March 1962 he married Susan Wakley, a Utah State graduate in education; they have three children.

Olsen was selected by the Los Angeles Rams, the team with whom he would play his entire career, in the first round of the 1962 NFL draft. He was regarded as a premier defensive lineman almost immediately, was named a starter before the season began, and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1962. Along with Lamar Lundy, Roosevelt Grier, and Deacon Jones, he formed the fabled "Fearsome Foursome," a defensive unit legendary for both its size and skill.

At six-feet, five-inches tall and 275 pounds, Olsen was a feared pass-rusher who, despite his size, had the speed and agility to chase down both running backs and quarterbacks. During his NFL career he was named to the Pro Bowl fourteen times, a league record. In twenty-two seasons of high school, college, and professional football—208 games in total—he missed only two games, both in his first year in high school. He played the following 198 games consecutively.

One of his coaches, George Allen, said, "We've never had a bad game from Merlin Olsen. You always got a good game from him, and more often than not, you got a great game." Tony Knap added, "He always had a tendency to do things … with finesse, rather than just blowing them off the line … he was never satisfied with his performance. He'd walk off the field and say, 'Coach don't even look at the film.'" Olsen said, "We were innovators.…It was fun knowing every time we went on the field we were the guys who were going to make something happen."

Olsen received numerous accolades when he retired after the 1976 season. He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982, his first year of eligibility. The National Football foundation, the GTE Academic Hall of Fame, and the National College Football Hall of Fame chose Olsen as a member. He was also selected as a member of college football's team of the century and the Sports Illustrated all-time NFL team for the sport's seventy-fifth anniversary.

Before he completed his football career, he began acting in movies and on television. His most famous roles were on Little House on the Prairie and as the title character in Father Murphy. He also had a very successful stint as a lead commentator for NBC telecasts of NFL games, covering five Super Bowls and numerous college bowl games with Dick Enberg. Olsen's articulate analysis became a standard for television commentators.

In athletics, business, and entertainment, Olsen has been extremely successful. However, he is also committed to helping others by working with numerous charities. He has been associated with Child Help, which assists abused children in California, the Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, and other charitable agencies. He has hosted the Children's Miracle Network telethon and was named National Outstanding Multiple Sclerosis Volunteer in 1981. Olsen also is a national spokesman for the FTD Florist group and General Motors automobiles.

Throughout his career, Olsen has also remained loyal to Utah State and his hometown. He has served the school in fund-raising and academic searches and has also established numerous student scholarships. Olsen and his wife reside in Park City, Utah, and Fish Haven, Idaho, on Bear Lake.

A biography of Olsen is Michael Gershman, Merlin Olsen: Gentlemanly Giant (2001). Information about Olsen's decision to retire as a football commentator is in Steve Woodward, "Search for Different Roles Prompts Olsen to Retire," USA Today (27 Dec. 1991). An analysis of Olsen's relationship with his son Nathan, a football player at Stanford University, is the focus of "Cardinal Sons," Sports Illustrated (10 Oct. 1994).

F. Ross Peterson