Honoring Merlin Olsen

The Salt Lake Tribune recently named Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen a starter on the all-time greatest football team made up of guys who played for their colleges in the state of Utah. In fact, the article declares him as the greatest football player to come out of Utah. See what they had to say about him and who else made the team here>>>

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has honored Olsen by hosting the Merlin Olsen Luncheon in the city that the Super Bowl is being played. The 11th annual event was held in San Francisco at the Hilton San Francisco Union Ballroom on the Friday before Super Bowl 50. Named after the Hall of Fame defensive tackle, the luncheon has annually kicked off the Super Bowl festivities since Super Bowl XL. It includes lunch, a special commemorative lithograph painting of a Hall of Famer and an opportunity to interact with and hear stories from Gold Jackets.

The event continues to grow each year. This year over 800 people attended and a record 50 Gold Jackets also participated. The group honored San Francisco 49ers legend John Brodie and Gold Jacket and iconic coach John Madden.

The Luncheon was named after Olsen because of his willingness to help his fellow Hall of Famers. He was also a driving force behind the concept before he passed away.

“There are Hall of Famers and there is Merlin Olsen,” commented Gold Jacket Tom Mack.

Olsen was a very passionate man who cared about the game of football, his teammates, friends and family. He also cared deeply about the state of Utah in which he was born and raised in.