The Minnesota Vikings are mourning. Jeff Siemon, one of the team’s icons, died this Saturday at age 75. The former linebacker spent his entire 11-year career in purple and gold, during which he played in three Super Bowls.
A Stanford graduate, Siemon had a brilliant college career, playing on two Rose Bowl-winning teams. He also earned several awards as the nation’s best linebacker.
Siemon was the 10th overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft and, in 1973, received the first of his four Pro Bowl selections, demonstrating his immediate impact on the team.
The only achievement missing from Siemon’s resume was a Super Bowl. Although he played in three Super Bowls in the 1973, 1974, and 1976 seasons, they were never able to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The Vikings mourn the death of Jeff Siemon
Minnesota confirmed the passing of the legendary linebacker in a statement on their website:
The Vikings are mourning the loss of four-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker and 1972 No. 10 overall pick, Jeff Siemon.
Bobby Bryant, Siemon’s former teammate, praised the former linebacker’s career, saying:
Jeff was a great teammate, a leader for us on the field, and a really good linebacker. He was key to our teams.
Wide receiver Ahmad Rashad, also a former teammate of Siemon’s, said:
His work ethic was absolutely tremendous. And above all, he is one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet.
What did Jeff Siemon die of?
Neither the team nor the family have clarified the cause of death of the star linebacker. He is survived by his wife, Dawn, and their four children. One of them is women’s basketball coach Kelley Siemon Deyo.
Siemon left an indelible mark on Vikings history, and his passing is a source of sadness for the organization and all its fans.
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