The Purple People Eaters was the nickname of the Minnesota Vikings football team's defensive line of the late 1960s to the late 1970s, when the Vikings played in four Super Bowls. The name comes from the purple color of the Vikings' uniforms and a song by Sheb Wooley entitled Purple People Eater. Members of the line were: City Minneapolis, Minnesota Other nicknames The Vikes, The Purple People Eaters Team colors Purple, Gold, and White Head Coach Brad Childress Owner Zygi Wilf General manager Rob Brzezinski Fight song Skol, Vikings Mascot Ragnar League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1961–present) Western Conference (1961-1969) Central Division (1967-1969... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League, the pinnacle of American football. ... Shelby F. Sheb Wooley (April 10, 1921 - September 17, 2003) was a character actor and singer, best known for his 1958 novelty hit Purple People Eater. Wooley was born in Erick, Oklahoma and grew up on a farm. ... The Purple People Eater was a novelty song, written and performed by Sheb Wooley (1921-2003), that reached #1 in the Billboard pop charts in 1958. ...

• Defensive tackle Alan Page, who was the 1971 NFL MVP, and who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
• Defensive end Carl Eller, whose nickname was "Moose," and who was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in 2004.
• Defensive end Jim Marshall, who is the NFL record holder for recovered fumbles (29), and who held the NFL record for playing in 282 consecutive games (until 2005, when his record was broken by punter Jeff Feagles); 270 of those games were with the Vikings.
• Defensive tackle Gary Larsen, who was replaced by Doug Sutherland in 1974.

Their motto was to "meet at the quarterback." The unit helped the Vikes to post-season appearances from 1968-71, and 1973-78. The Purple People Eaters were one of the most identifable front fours in NFL history, along with the "Fearsome Foursome" of the Los Angeles Rams during the 1960s and early '70s, the "Steel Curtain" of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1970s, and the "New York Sack Exchange" of the New York Jets during the 1980's. Alan Cedric Page (born August 7, 1945 in Canton, Ohio) is a former professional American football player who starred as a defensive lineman in the NFL, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings as a member of the Purple People Eaters, and then went on to have a distinguished legal career, serving... The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of the National Football League (NFL). ... Carl Eller (born January 25, 1942) was a professional American football player in the National Football League from 1964 through 1979. ... Jim Marshall (born December 30, 1937 Danville, Kentucky) played college football at Ohio State University. ... Jeffrey Allan Feagles (born March 7, 1966 in Anaheim, California) is an American football punter currently playing for the New York Giants of the National Football League. ... Gary Larsen (born March 13, 1942) was a defensive tackle in the NFL and played college football at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. ... Doug Sutherland, an American politician, currently serves as the Commissioner of Public Lands for the state of Washington. ... The Fearsome Foursome was a title first used in reporting American professional football, when referring to the dominating defensive line of the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League in the early 1960s, and to the Los Angeles Rams of the 1960s and 1970s. ... The St. ... The Steel Curtain was one of the most feared American football defenses, and a big part of the Pittsburgh Steelers 1970s dynasty. ... The New York Sack Exchange was a nickname give to the defensive line of the 1981-1983 Jets. ... City East Rutherford, New Jersey Other nicknames Gang Green, the Green and White Team colors Hunter green and white Head Coach Eric Mangini Owner Woody Johnson General manager Mike Tannenbaum League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Eastern Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American Football Conference...

Although the front line was the most famous unit of the Viking defense, they benefited from being surrounded by talented linebackers and defensive backs. Among the stars of the Vikings' back seven were linebackers Roy Winston, Wally Hilgenberg, Lonnie Warwick, Jeff Siemon, Matt Blair, and Fred McNeill, cornerbacks Nate Wright and Bobby Bryant, safety Jeff Wright and future Hall of Famer Paul Krause. Roy Charles Winston (born September 15, 1940 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is a former professional American football player. ... Walter Hilgenberg (born September 19, 1942 in Marshalltown, Iowa) is a former professional American football player. ... Lonnie Warwick (born September 19, 1942 in Raleigh, West Virginia) is a former professional American football player. ... Jeffrey Glenn Siemon (born June 2nd, 1950 in Rochester, Minnesota) is a former professional American football player. ... Matt Blair was a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for 12 seasons from 1974-1985. ... Frederick McNeill (born May 6, 1952) was a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for 12 seasons from 1974-1985. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Bobby Bryant was a cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings. ... Warning signs, such as this one, can improve safety awareness. ... Jeff Wright can refer to: Jeff Wright (defensive tackle), former NFL player for the Buffalo Bills. ... Paul Krause (born February 19, 1942 in Flint, Michigan) is a former professional American football player. ...