Paul Krause Paul James Krause ( born February 19 , 1942 ) is a former American football defensive back who played in the National Football League . He set the NFL record for interceptions with 81 , which he picked off from 45 different quarterbacks , and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998 . Early life . Krause attended and played high school football at Bendle High School in Burton , Michigan and earned all - state honors in basketball , football , baseball and track . Known for once scoring 54 points in a basketball game , he was one of the few in his high school to ever receive an athletic scholarship . College career . Krause attended and played college football at the University of Iowa . Krause was a two - way starter as a wide receiver and defensive back . As a senior in 1963 , he tied the Iowa record with six touchdown pass receptions and was selected for the Senior Bowl , the East - West Shrine game , the Coaches ' All - American game and the College All - Star game . Krause also played baseball at Iowa . As a sophomore , he earned All - America n honors and was drafted into the major leagues , but he turned down the offer . Krause ' s chances to play professional baseball were ended when he injured his shoulder in his junior year playing football against the University of Michigan . Professional career . Washington Redskins . Krause was drafted in the second round of the 1964 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins . In his rookie season , he led the NFL in interceptions with 12 , including interceptions in seven straight games , and was named to the All - NFL first team . He was named to his first of eight Pro Bowls and was second only to teammate Charley Taylor for the NFL Rookie of the Year award . Although he intercepted 28 passes in his first four seasons with the Redskins , he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings for linebacker Marlin McKeever and a seventh - round draft choice in the 1968 NFL Draft . Minnesota Vikings . Krause played with the Vikings until he retired after the 1979 season . During that time , he was one of 10 players to play in all four of the Vikings Super Bowl appearances ( Super Bowl IV , VIII , IX , and XI ) . Krause recorded an interception in Super Bowl IV and a fumble recovery in Super Bowl IX . Krause was often referred to as the Vikings " Center Fielder " because of his success as an interscholastic baseball player and his ability to catch interceptions . He currently holds the all - time interception record in the NFL with 81 , which he returned for 1 , 185 yards and three touchdowns . He acquired the record in 1979 against the Los Angeles Rams , in the second quarter of a 27 - 21 overtime loss with his 81st interception coming in the final period . The previous record of 79 was held by Emlen Tunnell , another former Hawkeye who played for the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers from 1948 to 1961 . Krause recovered 19 fumbles , returning them for 163 yards and three touchdowns . Krause only missed two games due to injuries in 16 seasons . After football . He previously owned a golf course in Elk River , Minnesota . In 1994 , Krause was elected to the Board of County Commissioners for Dakota County , Minnesota . He currently serves as a Dakota County Commissioner . Currently , Krause is involved in real estate development and insurance , and he owns several restaurants , including the Dairy Delite in Lakeville , Minnesota . Krause was named to the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 , the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998 , and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County Sports Hall of Fame on May 7 , 2004 . Personal . Krause is married to his wife , Pam , and has three children : two daughters ( Mandi and Zendi ) and one son ( Blair ) . In 1996 , Pam Krause was severely injured in a car accident near their home in Lakeville , Minnesota when she was hit by a truck . She spent five and a half months in a coma , but survived and is recuperating .