The Iron Block: The Legendary Journey of Ron Yary

From the first overall pick to a multi-time Hall of Fame inductee, Ron Yary redefined the standard of modern-era offensive tackle play across a dominant 15-year career.

Born on July 16, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, Anthony Ronald Yary went on to become one of the most dominant blockers in the history of gridiron football. His rare combination of size, speed, and agility fundamentally elevated how the offensive tackle position was played.

College Career

Yary attended the University of Southern California (USC), where he played under legendary coach John McKay from 1965 to 1967. Playing right tackle, he cleared massive pathways for star tailback O.J. Simpson, according to the National Football Foundation. During his three varsity seasons, the Trojans achieved a remarkable 24-7-1 record. In 1967, Yary anchored the line that led USC to an NCAA National Championship and a victory in the 1968 Rose Bowl. That same year, he won the Outland Trophy and the Knute Rockne Award, becoming the first player in USC history to be named the nation’s top collegiate lineman.

Road to the Pro Game

Yary’s unparalleled success at USC made him the consensus prize of the professional ranks. He made history by being selected first overall in the 1968 AFL-NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, marking the very first time an offensive lineman was taken with the top pick. Yary spent 14 seasons (1968–1981) anchoring the Vikings’ offensive line. He finished his illustrious 15-year professional career with a final season playing for the Los Angeles Rams in 1982. (Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Football Legacy

Yary became the cornerstone of a dominant Minnesota dynasty that ruled the NFC Central Division, capturing 11 division titles during his tenure. He won the 1969 NFL Championship and went on to appear in four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX, and XI). Renowned for his durability and work ethic, he missed only two games due to injury across 15 years. To cement his impact, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats

Yary’s resume ranks among the finest of any tackle to ever play the game:

• Career Games Played: 207 games (180 starts).
• Pro Bowls: 7 consecutive selections (1971–1977).
• All-Pro Honors: 6x First-team All-Pro (1971–1976); 2x Second-team All-Pro (1970, 1977).
• All-Conference: 8 consecutive All-NFC selections (1970–1977).
• Major Pro Awards: 3x NFLPA NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year (1973–1975); NFL Outstanding Blocker of the Year (1975).
• Major College Awards: Outland Trophy (1967), Knute Rockne Award (1967), Unanimous All-American (1967), Consensus All-American (1966).
• All-Time Teams: Named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team and the Pac-12 All-Century Team.