Carl Eller facts for kids
Eller in 2007
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| No. 81, 71 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | January 25, 1942 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 247 lb (112 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Atkins (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) |
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| College: | Minnesota (1961–1963) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1964 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 | ||||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1964 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Carl Eller (born January 25, 1942) is a famous American former football player. He played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 to 1979. Carl was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
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Early Life and High School Football
Carl Eller was born on January 25, 1942, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He went to Atkins High School. There, he was an amazing football player. His high school coaches helped him a lot.
His team won the state football championship in 1959. One of his teammates was Happy Hairston, who later became a National Basketball Association player. Carl also competed in track and field, throwing the discus and shot put. He earned the nickname "Moose" while playing football as a kid.
College Football Career
Carl Eller was recruited to the University of Minnesota by coach Murray Warmath. He played defensive tackle from 1961 to 1963. He started playing in his second year, even with a broken hand. In 1961 and 1962, Carl played alongside Bobby Bell, who also became a Hall of Famer.
Rose Bowl Victory
As a sophomore, Carl helped his team win the Rose Bowl on January 1, 1962. The Golden Gophers beat UCLA 21–3. Carl played both offensive and defensive tackle in that game. He made important blocks as an offensive lineman.
The team had lost the Rose Bowl the year before. But quarterback Sandy Stevens convinced them to go back for Carl's sake. He thought Carl might not get another chance to play in such a big game. Years later, experts named Carl to their 50-year Rose Bowl team.
College Honors and Awards
Carl became a full-time two-way player in his junior and senior years. He was voted All-American in 1962 and 1963. In 1962, he was second-team All-Big Ten. The next year, he was a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big Ten.
In 1963, Carl also won the school's Bronko Nagurski Award. This award goes to the team's most valuable player. He was also the runner-up for the Outland Trophy that year.
The 1960 Gophers team won the National Championship and Big Ten Championship. Carl was on the freshman team that year, so he did not play in the Rose Bowl. Carl believed that the successful Minnesota teams of that time were very important for the Black freedom movement. At the University of Minnesota, Carl joined the Mu chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Professional Football Career
In 1964, the Minnesota Vikings picked Carl Eller in the first round of the NFL draft. He was the 6th player chosen overall. The Buffalo Bills also picked him in the first round of the American Football League draft, but he chose to play for the Vikings.
Carl played as the left defensive end for the Vikings. He was a key part of their famous defensive line called the "Purple People Eaters." The other members were Alan Page, Jim Marshall, and Gary Larsen.
Vikings Success and Super Bowls
Starting in 1968, the Vikings won 10 Central Division titles in 11 seasons. They won the NFL Championship in 1969. They then lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl IV. The Vikings also won the NFC Championships in 1973, 1974, and 1976. However, they lost in the Super Bowl each of those years. Carl was one of 11 Vikings players who played in all four of their Super Bowls.
He was chosen to play in six Pro Bowls (1968–1971, 1973, and 1974). After playing for the Vikings for many years, Carl played his last season in 1979 with the Seattle Seahawks. He played a total of 225 games in his career. Carl only missed three games and started 209 of the 225 games he played.
Career Statistics and Awards
Carl Eller is known as the Vikings' all-time leader in sacks with 130½. He also had 3 sacks with the Seahawks in 1979, making his career total 133½. He had a career high of 15 sacks in 1969 and again in 1977. He also had 7 seasons with 10 or more sacks. Carl recovered 23 fumbles during his career.
He was named first-team All-NFL from 1968 to 1971, and again in 1973. He was also second-team All-Pro in 1967 and 1972. Carl was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1970s All-Decade Team. In 1971, he won the George Halas Trophy as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.
Honors and Life After Football
In 2004, Carl Eller was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2000, Carl was named to the Vikings' 40th Anniversary Team. In 2010, he was named to the Vikings' 50th Anniversary team.
Since 1984, the Carl Eller Award has been given to the University of Minnesota's Defensive Player of the Year. In 1992, he was inducted into the University of Minnesota's M Club Hall of Fame.
After his football career, Carl Eller became a licensed counselor. He founded a group of clinics called Triumph Life Centers in 1986. He earned a college degree in Human Services in 1994. He then worked for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. He focused on helping people of color with health issues.
Carl Eller later served as president of the NFL Retired Players Association. In 2020, he became a consultant for Halberd Corporation. This company researches and develops medical treatments for diseases.
