Matt Blair facts for kids
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Blair in 2014
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| No. 59 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Outside linebacker | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | September 20, 1950 Hilo, Hawaii, U.S. |
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| Died: | October 22, 2020 (aged 70) | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 232 lb (105 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Colonel White (Dayton, Ohio) |
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| College: | Iowa State | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1974 / Round: 2 / Pick: 51 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Albert Matthew Blair (born September 20, 1950 – died October 22, 2020) was a famous American football player. He played as an outside linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League (NFL). He spent his entire 12-year career with the Vikings, from 1974 to 1985. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Iowa State.
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Early Life and High School
Matt Blair was born in Hilo, Hawaii. When he was in high school, his family moved to Ohio. He was a talented athlete, and many colleges wanted him to play for their football teams. He started his college journey at Northeast Oklahoma Junior College.
College Football Career
At Northeast Oklahoma A&M, Matt Blair joined the football team. He helped his team win the Junior College Championship in 1969. He earned scholarships by playing both football and basketball.
After junior college, many big universities wanted him to play for them. He chose to go to Iowa State University. At Iowa State, he was a key player for two years. He played in the 1971 Sun Bowl game and was named the best defensive player in that game. In 1973, he had a great senior year, making 77 tackles and earning All-America honors.
Professional Football Career
Playing for the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings picked Matt Blair in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft. He was the 51st player chosen overall. Blair quickly became known as one of the best and fastest linebackers in the NFC.
He was chosen for the Pro Bowl (an all-star game) for six years in a row, from 1977 to 1982. He was also named All-Pro in 1980, which means he was one of the best players in the entire NFL. Blair was also amazing at special teams, especially at blocking punts. He is one of the top players in NFL history for blocking kicks.
Matt Blair played in two Super Bowls with the Vikings: Super Bowl IX (after the 1974 season) and Super Bowl XI (after the 1976 season). Even though the Vikings lost both games, Blair made a big play in Super Bowl IX. He blocked a punt, which led to the Vikings' only points in that game. He was a very important part of the Vikings' defense throughout his career.
Later Years and Passing
Matt Blair passed away on October 22, 2020, at the age of 70. In his later years, he had been dealing with health issues.
