Jeff Siemon, the Minnesota Vikings linebacker and franchise stalwart, has died aged 75. The news was confirmed by the NFL; Siemon passed away on Saturday. No cause of death has been confirmed and no place of death was disclosed.

Career and honours

Drafted tenth overall in 1972, Siemon spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 1973 and was selected three consecutive times from 1975 to 1977. Siemon was a key figure on a dominant Viking defence in the 1970s, starting in three Super Bowls and registering 1,375 tackles — the third-most in team history.

Before the NFL, Siemon was an All-American at Stanford University. He was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (he was pictured after being enshrined in 2007) and was named one of the franchise’s 50 Greatest Vikings in 2010.

Death, family and legacy

The NFL website confirmed Siemon’s death on Saturday. The report did not provide a cause, and there has been no public disclosure of a location for his passing. He is survived by his wife, Dawn, and their four children.

Tributes from teammates

Tributes poured in from former teammates and those who knew him. Ahmad Rashad called Siemon a “consummate professional and one of the best linebackers to ever play the game,” adding that “his work ethic was absolutely tremendous” and that he was “one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet.”

Bobby Bryant remembered Siemon as “a great teammate — a leader for us on the field and a really good linebacker,” saying: “As good of a player that Jeff was, he was a better person — truly one of the best guys we had. You never heard anyone speak cross of Jeff. His faith was his guide, and he was not afraid to share it with people. He touched so many.”

For Vikings supporters and the wider football community, Siemon will be remembered as a defensive rock and a classically respected figure during one of the franchise’s most successful eras.

Report: NFL

Image Referance: https://www.the-sun.com/sport/16151970/minnesota-vikings-icon-jeff-siemon-dies-nfl-super-bowl/