R.I.P. Merlin Olsen

[Tim Couch Pulls Out]

Hall of Fame lineman Olsen dies

Merlin Olsen, a Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman who was part of the Los Angeles Rams' famed "Fearsome Foursome" of the 1960s, has died after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 69.

Olsen, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma last year and had been undergoing chemotherapy, died Wednesday night, the Cache Valley Daily of Utah reported.

A Utah native, Olsen attended Utah State and, in his senior year with the Aggies, won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior defensive lineman.

Olsen was selected to 14 Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

Following his retirement from the game, Olsen flourished as a television actor, appearing regularly on "Little House on the Prairie" in the 1970s and later in the lead role of "Father Murphy."

Olsen was part of the Rams' defensive line famously known as the "Fearsome Foursome" along with Roosevelt Grier, Deacon Jones and Lamar Lundy. Jones also is a member of the Hall of Fame.

Damn.

[DieHardBrownsFan]

That's a damn shame. Great player. RIP.

[Kosar_For_President]

Dude I'm watching Father Murphy tonight.

[Tim Couch Pulls Out]

@kosar_for_president said:

Dude I'm watching Father Murphy tonight.

I'm watching some Little House on the Prairie. And Anchorman. Haha.

[Erie Dawg]

mesothelioma Is from exposure to asbestos..... seems a little odd?

[Chicopee John]

@diehardbrownsfan said:

That's a damn shame. Great player. RIP.

I always liked him - on and off the field. Sorry to hear this.

[peterbell]

great player..and when he made a great play he just got up and walked back to the defensive huddle..not strut around poising for a ESPN moment..I miss those days

[Thaak]

@erie-dawg said:

mesothelioma Is from exposure to asbestos..... seems a little odd?

Mostly true, rarely cases have been diagnosed with no known exposure to Asbestos. Other similar fibrous minerals can also be a catalyst for the disease.

[ballpeen]

@erie-dawg said:

mesothelioma Is from exposure to asbestos..... seems a little odd?

The cancer can take years(decades) after exposure to develop.

All people his age were exposed to the stuff.

In my elementary school the heat was by steam. The pipes around the radiators were wrapped with the stuff...we would pokes holes in the outer wrap, then flip it with our finger because we thought it was cool to see the white power that came out like puffs of smoke.

Anybody over the age of 45 or so has been exposed to a lot of the stuff over the years.

Break pads were made of it up until maybe 20 years ago. Anybody who maybe worked on their car and changed pads has breathed in a lot of asbestos dust....

[calfoxwc]

A great player, exellent human being. Tougher than nails, but played the game with an integrity.

He refused to cheap shot, or cut corners to being a great player.

That's sad, ... he was respected everywhere, highly.

God Bless, Merlin.

[ballpeen]

@calfoxwc said:

A great player, exellent human being. Tougher than nails, but played the game with an integrity.

He refused to cheap shot, or cut corners to being a great player.

That's sad, ... he was respected everywhere, highly.

God Bless, Merlin.

I'll have to send some flowers FTD to my sister in Montgomery.....he was a FTD pitchman for a good number of years.

R.I.P. Merlin

[Brownshirt]

@ballpeen said:

I'll have to send some flowers FTD to my sister in Montgomery.....he was a FTD pitchman for a good number of years.

R.I.P. Merlin

Peen your a good man, you have my utmost respect! Thanks for being a Browns fan.

[jrb12711]

I was friends with Merlin Olsen, he came over......................on occasion. (movie reference btw)

Seriously though, great player and even greater person. Great example on how to play the game right. He will be missed.

[Mark O]

He did a great job on NBC as a football color guy as well, working with Dick Enberg for years.

RIP Merlin...