EDEN PRAIRIE — Former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Matt Blair will be inducted as the 20th member of the Vikings Ring of Honor on Oct. 25 at halftime of the Vikings-Buccaneers game at Mall of America Field.
Originally a second round draft pick selected 51st overall in 1974, Blair played in 160 career games with 130 starts for the Vikings and still ranks second in team history with 1,452 career tackles.
Only Scott Studwell and Roy Winston played in more games as a linebacker than Blair.
Regarded as a highly-productive player with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, Blair holds the Vikings record with 20 blocked kicks, notching two blocks in a single game three different times.
His 23 sacks and 16 interceptions also rank as the most by a Vikings linebacker.
The Iowa State graduate was a part of Vikings playoff teams in six of his opening seven seasons with the team and played on the Vikings Super Bowl IX and XI teams.
He was named to the Pro Bowl in six straight seasons from 1977-82, tying him for the fifth-most Pro Bowl berths by a Viking in club history, and was named All-Pro in 1980.
Among Vikings defensive players, only Alan Page had more Pro Bowl honors (nine) than Blair.
