Matt Blair

For the English footballer, see Matty Blair.

Matt Blair
No. 59
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1950-09-20) September 20, 1950
Place of birth:	Hilo, Hawaii
Career information
College:	Iowa State
NFL Draft:	1974 / Round: 2 / Pick: 51
Career history
Minnesota Vikings (1974–1985)
Career highlights and awards
6× Pro Bowl Miller "Man off the year" and Minnesota Jaycees "Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans" recipient for community services

Player stats at PFR

Matt Blair (born September 20, 1950) was an outside linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for all 12 seasons of his career from 1974 to 1985.

Career

Blair was an All-American selected out of Iowa State University by the Vikings in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft with the 51st overall selection. Blair quickly established himself as one of the top and speediest linebackers in the NFC, earning Pro Bowl honors for 6 consecutive seasons (1977–1982) and making the NFL All-Rookie Team. In addition, Blair was selected All-Pro in 1980, All-NFC in 1978 & 2nd Team All-NFC in 1977, 1979 & 1981. He was also an exceptional special teams player, particularly in blocking punts because of his great speed and timing abilities. Blair is 3rd in the NFL with 20 blocked kicks.

Blair appeared in two Super Bowls with the Vikings, Super Bowl IX (1974 season) and Super Bowl XI (1976 season), losses respectively to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders.

Blair started for the Vikings his rookie season for the injured Roy Winston. Blair participated in special teams play in Super Bowl IX, blocking Bobby Walden's punt, recovered by Terry Brown in the endzone, the Vikings' only points all day, as they missed the extra point. He was a vital part of the Vikings' 1976 season of 11 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie, second in the NFL in least points allowed (176 points, 12.6 points per game). In particular, Blair recovered 5 fumbles and intercepted 2 passes from his linebacker position with Jeff Siemon in the middle and Wally Hilgenberg on the opposite side. The Vikings defeated the Rams again in the NFC championship game of the 1976-77 NFL playoffs, when Blair recovered 2 fumbles.

Minnesota Vikings 1974 NFL draft selections

Fred McNeill Steve Riley John Holland Matt Blair Steve Craig Scott Anderson Mike Townsend Jim Ferguson Mark Kellar Fred Tabron Berl Simmons Sam McCullum Barry Reed Dave Boone Randy Polti Gary Keller Alan Dixon Kurt Wachtler John Gobel Earl Garrett

Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor

Founded in 1961 Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota

1998 inductees	Fran Tarkenton Parl Krause Alan Page Jim Finks Bud Grant Fred Zamberletti

1999 inductees	Jim Marshall

2001 inductees	Mick Tingelhoff Ron Yary Korey Stringer

2002 inductees	Carl Eller

2003 inductees	Cris Carter

2004 inductees	Bill Brown

2005 inductees	Jerry Burns

2006 inductees	Randall McDaniel

2007 inductees	Chuck Foreman

2008 inductees	John Randle

2009 inductees	Scott Studwell

2011 inductees	Chris Doleman

2012 inductees	Matt Blair

2013 inductees	Joey Browner

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