Page, Alan C.
Football
b. Aug. 7, 1945, Canton, OH
A defensive end in college, Page was one of four consensus All-Americans on the great Notre Dame team that was named national champion in 1966 after winning 9 games and tying 1, against second-ranked Michigan State.
Though 6-foot-4 and only 240 pounds, Page was moved to defensive tackle when he joined the NFL's Minnesota Vikings in 1967. Incredibly fast and very quick off the ball, Page could not only dominate much bigger offensive lineman, he could often dominate a game.
In 1971, Page became the first defensive player ever named the NFL's player of the year by Associated Press, and he also won the United Press International award as National Football Conference player of the year. Page that season had 109 tackles, 35 assists on tackles, 10 quarterback sacks, and 3 safeties.
The intelligent and individualistic Page was suddenly released by the Vikings during the 1978 season because he had put himself on a running program that brought his weight down to 225 pounds. The Chicago Bears immediately picked him up and he was a starter with them for four years before retiring after the 1981 season.
In his 15 professional seasons, Page started 238 games and never missed one. He recovered 24 opposition fumbles, blocked 28 kicks, had 164 sacks, and made 1,431 tackles. He was a consensus All-Pro from 1968 through 1976.
Page earned a law degree while playing pro football and became a justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1992.