Jeff Siemon, one of the toughest and most respected defenders in Minnesota Vikings history, has died at 75.

The former linebacker helped lead the Vikings to three Super Bowls during an unforgettable run with the franchise and became one of the most reliable players the team ever had.

Siemon was drafted by Minnesota with the 10th overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft after starring at Stanford, where he earned All-American honors. He went on to spend his entire 11-year NFL career with the Vikings and never missed a single game.

That durability alone would have been impressive, but Siemon gave the Vikings much more than that.

He was a four-time Pro Bowler and played a major role in one of the most feared defenses in football, the legendary Purple People Eaters era. He earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 1973 and then made three straight from 1975 through 1977.

Siemon also started in Super Bowls VIII, IX, and XI as the Vikings dominated the NFC during one of the strongest stretches in franchise history.

By the time his career ended, Siemon had racked up 1,375 defensive tackles, still one of the highest totals in team history. Only a couple of Vikings legends finished ahead of him.

Former teammate Bobby Bryant remembered Siemon as not just a great player, but an even better man. He called him a leader on the field and said his faith guided the way he lived, adding that he touched countless people.

After football, Siemon took a very different path.

The California native went on to earn a master’s degree in law, then later became a full-time minister. He and his wife eventually settled in Minnesota, where he continued building a life after the NFL.

In 2006, Siemon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, adding another major honor to an already impressive legacy.