University of Minnesota Athletics
Carl Eller
9/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Carl Eller |
A native of Winston Salem, N.C., Carl Eller starred as a dominating defensive tackle for the Gophers from 1961-63. So tough was Eller that in his first season he even played with a broken hand, tossing aside his cast that he wore in practices come game day. As a sophomore, Eller helped lead the Gophers past UCLA to win the Rose Bowl. In 1963, "Moose," as he was affectionately known, earned All-American honors and was the runner-up for the coveted Outland Trophy, emblematic of the nation's top interior lineman. The six-foot-six, 260-pound terror was then selected by the Vikings with the sixth overall pick of the first round of the NFL draft. He went on to play 225 regular-season games over 15 years for the Vikings before spending one final season with the Seattle Seahawks in 1979. He was named All-Pro six times, was the NFL's Most Valuable Defensive Lineman twice, and played in six Pro Bowl games as well as four Super Bowls. Eller is the Vikings' all-time sack leader with 130, while also recovering a record 23 fumbles along the way. Known for his great speed, power and agility, Eller was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
M Club Hall of Fame
