Minnesota Vikings First Draft Pick, Tommy Mason, Dies at 75

Tommy Mason, the first player ever selected by the Minnesota Vikings, has died at the age of 75.

The Vikings released the following statement: “The entire Minnesota Vikings organization is saddened by the loss of Tommy Mason. As the team’s first-ever draft pick, Tommy played a significant role in the history of the franchise. After spending six seasons with the team, he remained a part of the Vikings family, appearing at multiple events over the past several decades. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mason family at this time.”

Mason was a Louisiana native who attended Tulane, where he had racked up 1020 rushing yards and 527 receiving yards in his three years there and led the SEC in rushing yardage and rush yards per attempt his senior year, and was 6th in the NCAA (first in the SEC) in yards from scrimmage. The Vikings weren’t the only ones to draft Mason, who was also drafted second overall in the AFL draft by the Boston Patriots and by the Ottawa Rough Riders. Mason would go on to attend three Pro Bowls for the Vikings and represent them on the All Pro team once, averaging 4.4 yards per attempt and 55 yards a game in those three years. He was a big asset in the passing game, with 30 yards over the air a game in the same time span.

In those years, the draft would be haphazard. Many teams didn’t have scouting departments, instead relying on the data in forms filled out by the prospects themselves. They installed many prospects in hotel rooms and the ones they didn’t they called to make sure they didn’t sign with the CFL or AFL. Mason’s first contract with the Vikings awarded him $12,000 a year, large at the time because he was drafted by two other leagues. The Vikings still tried to game the draft, however, and leaked that they were willing to trade Mason and some picks for a quarterback. The Vikings didn’t, and selected Fran Tarkenton in the third round.

Mason, along with Tarkenton, was one of the lone bright spots of the early team coached by Van Brocklin—a team characterized by reporters as “closer to a wildlife refuge than a football team,” made up of “orphans and derelicts, a handful of once-esteemed veterans set adrift by their former employers and a few authentic stars of the future.”

Tommy likely could have done more if it wasn’t for his knee injuries. Team historian and long-time athletic trainer Fred Zamberletti said, “Tommy was as complete of a running back as they come. Because of injuries, Tommy did not have the career that he wanted to have but he was a very talented, hard-running, slashing player. He’ll always be remembered as one of the original Vikings. He will be sorely missed.”

In addition to the knee injuries he suffered later in his career, he suffered neck injuries playing in a college All-Star game before his rookie year, which gave Hugh McElhenny the job. His knee injuries began accumulating in 1965, as his right knee gave out and he missed three games. Later, in the offseason, he also had surgery on his left knee and shoulder.

That first draft was a gem, with Bert Rose—the first general manager of the team—selecting not only Mason, but Rip Hawkins, Ed Sharockman and Fran Tarkenton as well. They combined for 13 Pro Bowls and two All-Pros. It wasn’t until a power struggle between Van Brocklin and Rose than Rose was forced to leave in 1964. Immediately after Van Brocklin’s resignation both Tarkenton and Mason were traded. Tarkenton went to the Giants for the first and second picks of both the 1967 and 1968 drafts while Mason, Hal Bledsoe and the second pick in the 1967 draft were traded to the Los Angeles Rams for Marlin McKeever and the Rams’ first-round pick—who ended up being the best defensive tackle of all time, Alan Page. After the fact, many Vikings fans watching him may recall Robert Smith—another slasher who was a threat both in the air and on the ground.

“Tommy was an enormous talent,” Fran Tarkenton said in a statment, “He was a great player, a humble man and an outstanding teammate. I will always cherish the years I spent with Tommy.”

He wasn’t able to get much done with the Rams or later the Washington Redskins, but he was an inactive member of the 1972 squad that ended up winning the Super Bowl (he was going to retire, but coach George Allen convinced him to stay as an injury substitute). He made $51,000 that year, despite not playing a game.

After retirement, he worked in beer distribution for 17 years before selling his company to Coors and attended law school in California. He married Cathy Rigby, a former gymnast and actress who played Peter Pan for 30 years.

He’s a big part of Vikings history and he’ll be missed.

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