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Merlin Olsen Through the Years

Los Angeles Rams Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (74) during a 15-12 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on October 22, 1972, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

The "Fearsome Foursome" of the Los Angeles Rams--defensive ends Lamar Lundy (85) and Hall-of-Famer Deacon Jones (75) and defensive tackles Rosey Grier (76) and Hall-of-Famer Merlin Olsen (74)--show where they got their name with their ferocious pass rush (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 21: Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Merlin Olsen #74 of the West All-Stars does an interview prior to playing against the East All-Stars in the 1968 NFL Pro Bowl on January 21, 1968 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the Los Angeles, California. The West defeated the East 38-20. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackles Coy Bacon (79) and Hall-of-Famer Merlin Olsen (74) sandwich Atlanta Falcons running back Dave Hampton (43) during a 20-7 Rams victory on November 5, 1972, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Archie Manning #8 of the New Orleans Saints is grabbed by the jersey by defensive tackle Merlin Olsen #74 of the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 1972 in Los Angeles, California. The Rams defeated the Saints 34-14. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Los Angeles Rams " Fearsome Foursome " defensive ends David " Deacon " Jones and Lamar Lundy, defensive tackles Merlin Olsen and Roger Brown pursue in a 34 to 10 win over the Baltimore Colts on December 17, 1967 at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

The Los Angeles Rams defensive front four, the second "Fearsome Foursome", pose together in 1969. Pictured left to right are defensive end Lamar Lundy (85), defensive tackle Roger Brown (78), Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (74), and Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (74) of the Los Angeles Rams in action during the Rams 16-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on October 11, 1976 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (74) of the Los Angeles Rams in action during the Rams 17-3 victory over the Chicago Bears on October 3, 1971 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (74) of the Los Angeles Rams in action during the Rams 17-3 victory over the Chicago Bears on October 3, 1971 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (74) of the Los Angeles Rams in action during the Rams 24-7 preseason loss to the Dallas Cowboys on August 3, 1973 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Los Angeles Rams Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (74) diagnosis the play as it unfolds during a 30-13 victory over the Green Bay Packers on October 24, 1971, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Los Angeles Rams defensive linemen Larry Brooks (90) and Hall-of-Famers Merlin Olsen (74) and Jack Youngblood (85) during a 10-16 loss to the Denver Broncos on November 12, 1972, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Green Bay Packers guard Jerry Kramer (64) blocks Los Angeles Rams Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (74). but Olsen still manages to bat downGreen Bay Packers Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr's (15) pass during a 27-24 Rams victory. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Los Angeles Rams Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (74) during a 15-12 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on October 22, 1972, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Los Angeles Rams Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (74) during a 34-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints on September 17, 1972, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees George Musso, Sam Huff, Merlin Olsen, and Doug Atkins at the NFL Pro Bowl, a 16-13 AFC victory on January 31, 1982, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Snow falls outside the Rams motel where the coach and three players pose for picture in front of Christmas tree on Dec. 24, 1969 in Minneapolis. From left are head coach George Allen, Merlin Olsen, Bruce Gossett and Myron Patties. (AP Photo/RW)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, left, comes down with a shirt-tackle by the Rams' Merlin Olsen in Los Angeles on Sept. 18, 1972. (AP Photo)

Los Angeles Rams' defensive tackle Merlin Olsen, shown Nov. 8, 1972, a favorite of youngsters to whom he is giving autographs, was selected in Los Angeles as the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in last Sunday's game with the Atlanta Falcons. Olsen sacked Atlanta quarterback Bob Berry twice, had four unassisted tackles and one assist. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)

Los Angeles Rams defensive front four, known as the "Fearsome Foursome." from left to right are Lamar Lundy (85), Merlin Olsen (74), Rosey Grier (76), and Deacon Jones (75). Olsen, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and former television actor, died Wednesday night, March 10, 2010, at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 69. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

In this Dec. 16, 1981 file photo, actor Merlin Olsen is shown in character as he takes a break during filming for his television series "Father Murphey," in Simi Valley, Calif. Olsen, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and former television actor, died Wednesday, March 10, 2010. He was 69. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)