Stanford Football mourns the loss of Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Siemon. He was 75 years old.
A consensus All-American in 1971, Siemon was one of the top inside linebackers in the country, compiling 216 tackles over his final two collegiate seasons. He helped lead Stanford to consecutive Rose Bowl Game victories in 1971 and 1972, still the only time in program history that Stanford has won the Rose Bowl Game in consecutive seasons. Siemon recorded 15 tackles in both Rose Bowl Game wins as Stanford’s “Thunder Chicken” defense led the way in a 27-17 win over Ohio State and a 13-12 win over Michigan.
The 1971 Dick Butkus Award and Pop Warner Award recipient was then drafted by the Minnesota Vikings tenth overall in the 1972 NFL Draft, the ninth Stanford student-athlete to be drafted in the first round.
Siemon went on to enjoy an 11-year career, all with the Vikings, spanning from 1972-82. He played in 156 games at linebacker, making 124 starts, and earning four Pro Bowl honors during his first six seasons. The Vikings made three Super Bowls with Siemon playing an integral part of a Minnesota defense that was one of the most feared in the 1970s.
Siemon was named one of the 50 Greatest Vikings in commemoration of the team’s 50th season in 2010. He ranks third in team history in tackles with 1,375.
A member of the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame, Siemon was named to the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in 2006, one of 20 former Stanford greats to hold the honor.
Our thoughts are with his family and the Minnesota Vikings community.