Former Ram Olsen dead at 69

Merlin Olsen, who was an All-American defensive lineman at Utah State University and the Los Angeles Rams’ first-round draft pick in 1962 died Thursday in California. He had been battling mesothelioma, which is a form of cancer of the lining of the lungs, since last year.

Olsen was a part of the Los Angeles Rams’ “Fearsome Foursome” that became famous in the 1960s; in 1968 the Rams set the record for fewest yards allowed in a season. He holds the Rams record for most career tackles with 915, and he made the Pro Bowl for fourteen straight years.

He went on to a successful acting career after leaving the NFL, appearing in the hit series Little House on the Prairie and then landing a starring role in Father Murphy.

To hear more about Olsen, check out this video