Merlin Olsen, the legendary Rams defensive lineman from Utah and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died Wednesday night of cancer. He was 69. Olsen was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2009 and had been undergoing chemotherapy.
A native of Logan, Olsen became an All-America lineman at Utah State, an All-Pro defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams and an acclaimed actor and broadcaster, distinguished by his warm, authoritative voice.
"We've all been touched by that voice in some way," said USU president Stan Albrecht.
With pursuits that extended well beyond football, Olsen brought distinction to his hometown, his college and his state to a degree that few Utahns have achieved.
"I can't think of anyone who's gone through this institution that has accomplished more in a broader array or arenas than Merlin Olsen," Albrecht said.
In December 2009, Albrecht announced plans for the naming of Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium, where the Aggies play football, in addition to a statue of Olsen on the facility's southeast plaza and a scholarship endowment, largely funded by donations from Olsen's friends and former teammates.
In addition to his football exploits that included leading the Aggies to an 18-3-1 record and two bowl appearances in his last two seasons, Olsen was an Academic All-American. In the middle of his NFL career, Olsen completed a master's degree in economics at USU.
Former USU teammate Len Rohde, himself an NFL fixture as an offensive tackle with San Francisco, often faced the Rams defenses.
He welcomed not having to block Olsen one-on-one. "Fortunately for me, Rohde said, "he was on the other side."
Tom Ramage, who assisted Tony Knap with the Aggie linemen, remembers how Olsen's strength was more than physical, even though he was naturally strong without any of the weightlifting that would become standard practice in football.
"He was a thinker," Ramage said. "He was trying to come up with new stuff all the time, ways to do it better. He was really a fun guy to work with. You had to be on your toes to coach Merlin."
In his 15 seasons with the Rams (1962-76), Olsen was selected 14 times to the Pro Bowl and was a six-time All-Pro choice. Having missed only two games in his career, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982, his first year of eligibility.
"In Rams history, there are maybe 10 guys who are iconic, and he's one of them," said Chip Rosenbloom, now the majority owner of the St. Louis Rams. "There's nobody who is more important."
After football, Olsen transitioned easily into other pursuits and continued to bring "honor and dignity" to USU, athletic director Scott Barnes said.
Olsen starred in television's "Little House on the Prairie," "Father Murphy" and "Aaron's Way." He also joined Dick Enberg as the analyst for NBC Sports' coverage of the NFL. In a recent letter to Olsen, Enberg wrote of his partner's "uncommon willingness to prepare" for their weekly broadcasts.
Beyond his professional achievements, Olsen is well remembered for his charity work and treatment of others. "The thing about him that I find remarkable is never once have I heard him say a negative word abut anybody, in any circumstance," said Rosenbloom, who grew up with the Rams, formerly owned by his father, Carroll. "I just remember having a lot of admiration and respect for him, because he was a unique guy on the team, just the kind of person he is gentle and wonderful, and treated everybody so well."
