Purple People Eaters Purple People Eaters ( sometimes Purple Gang ) is a term for the defensive line of the Minnesota Vikings from the late 1960s to the late 1970s . The term is a reference to a popular song from 1958 , the superb efficiency of the defense , and the color of their uniforms . The motto of the Purple People Eaters was " Meet at the quarterback . " One of the original members of the defensive line , Gary Larsen , was replaced in the mid - 1970s by Doug Sutherland . The Purple People Eaters were a major factor in the post - season success of the Vikings from the late 1960s through the 1970s . The Purple People Eaters were one of the most identifiable Front Fours in National Football League history , with the " Fearsome Foursome " of the Los Angeles Rams during the 1960s and early 1970s , the " Steel Curtain " of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1970s , and the " New York Sack Exchange " of the New York Jets during the 1980s . Despite not winning a Super Bowl in any of their 4 trips ( Super Bowls IV , VIII , IX and XI ) , the Vikings ' defense is considered arguably among the greatest defense of all time . Carl Eller and Alan Page were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame . Many fans , sports writers , players , and coaches argue that Jim Marshall should be in the Hall of Fame as well . The building of the Purple People Eaters . When the Minnesota Vikings first came into the NFL in 1961 , they picked up Jim Marshall From the Cleveland Browns in the expansion draft . In 1964 , Carl Eller was drafted in the first round . In the next season they acquired Gary Larsen from the Los Angeles Rams . Then in 1967 , the Vikings drafted Alan Page in the first round . This foursome went down as one of the most intimidating Front Fours in NFL history . Pro Bowls and MVPs . In 1968 , the defense led the Vikings to their first divisional title . Meanwhile , Marshall , Eller and Page all made the Pro Bowl . In 1969 , all four members of the Vikings front line made the Pro Bowl as the defense gave up the fewest points , fewest yards , and sacked the opposing quarterback 50 times . Their offense was just as impressive by scoring the most points . This combination led the team to their first NFL Championship and to Super Bowl IV , where they lost in a 23 - 7 upset to the Kansas City Chiefs . The next year , the Vikings defense once again gave up the fewest points , fewest yards , and recorded 49 sacks . Meanwhile , Page , Eller and Larsen all made the Pro Bowl . In 1971 the Vikings for the third year in a row gave up the fewest points and gave up the 2nd fewest yards . That year , Carl Eller was voted NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive tackle Alan Page became the first and only defensive lineman to be voted NFL MVP . Three Super Bowls in four years . With the Vikings intimidating line leading their defense and their future Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton leading the offense , the Vikings went on to participate in Super Bowl ' s VIII , IX , and XI . In 1973 , Alan Page was named NEA Defensive player of the year as the Vikings would return to their second Super Bowl in five years . In 1974 , Doug Sutherland would start in place of Gary Larsen and continue for the next seven years . Sutherland would go on to start in Super Bowl IX as the Vikings were once again NFC Champions . However they lost in a 16 - 6 defensive struggle to the Pittsburgh Steelers . Super Bowl IX would be Larsen ' s last game . In 1975 the Vikings ' defense gave up the fewest total yards for the third time in 7 years . Meanwhile , Tarkenton was named NFL MVP . The season would come to a disappointing end as the Cowboys would pull off a Hail Mary pass to beat the Vikings in the Divisional round 17 - 14 . The win was not without controversy fans continued to argue that Cowboy ' s receiver Drew Pearson pushed Vikings cornerback Nate Wright . In 1976 , The Vikings would win yet another divisional title and would make it to their third Super Bowl in four years and fourth overall . But for the fourth time in four Super Bowls , they lost . That year , Alan Page accounted for 18 of the Vikings 46 sacks . Retirement . After six games during the 1978 season , Alan Page was traded to the Chicago Bears , where he collected 40 sacks before he retired in 1981 . After the 1978 season , Carl Eller was traded to the Seattle Seahawks , where he collected three more sacks in his final season . After the 1979 season , Jim Marshall retired . In 20 seasons ( 19 with the Vikings and 1 with the Cleveland Browns ) Marshall never missed a game and set what was then a National Football League record with 282 consecutive starts . After his last home game , Marshall was carried off the field by his teammates in celebration . This starting Front Four ended up consisting of two ( arguably 3 ) Hall of Famers . Page was inducted in 1988 and Eller was inducted in 2004 . Marshall is not in the Hall of Fame but NFL Films has Marshall ranked number 4 on the list of top ten players that are not in the Hall of Fame . Memorable moments . Wrong Way Run . In the fourth quarter of a 1964 game against the San Francisco 49ers , Jim Marshall recovered a fumble and returned in 66 yards in the wrong direction . Thinking he scored a touchdown for the Vikings , he threw the ball out of bounds in celebration which then resulted in a safety for the 49ers . The Niners would get the ball back but on that drive , Marshall made up for his famous blunder by sacking the quarterback , and forcing a fumble which teammate Carl Eller recovered and ran 45 yards to score the winning touchdown as the Vikings would win the game 27 - 22 . Remarkable Play on Thanksgiving . In a 1969 Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions , Jim Marshall and Alan Page combined for one of the most remarkable plays in NFL history . Page tipped a pass which fell into the hands of Marshall who took off with it . As he was being tackled , Marshall lateraled the ball to Page who then had an easy path to the end zone . Divisional playoffs . In a 1969 playoff game , the Vikings hosted the Los Angeles Rams . Early in the game , Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel was intercepted by Carl Eller who ran 40 yards into the end zone , but the play was called back on a controversial offside penalty on Alan Page . Late in the fourth quarter , the Vikings defense needed to protect a one - point lead . Carl Eller extended the lead by sacking the quarterback in the end zone for a safety . The Rams would get the ball back , but Page made up for his earlier penalty by intercepting a pass , putting the game out of reach . Super Bowl IV rematch . In Week 1 of the 1970 season , The Vikings were in a Super Bowl IV rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs . The Vikings defense dominated the game by limiting the Chiefs to 63 yards rushing , and forcing four turnovers . On one turnover , Jim Marshall recovered a fumble and , as he was being tackled , lateraled the ball to Roy Winston who raced into the end zone as the Vikings went on to win 27 - 10 . Alan Page vs The Lions . In Week 13 of 1971 , the Vikings hosted the Detroit Lions . In the second quarter after being called for a Personal Foul and a Roughing the Passer Penalty on consecutive plays Page sacked QB Greg Landry on First down . On Second down Carl Eller received an offsides penalty , then the Lions were penalized for Holding , when the second down play finally occurred Page tackled Taylor for a 4 yard Rushing Loss . Finally Page tackled Landry for a gain of just two yards on 3rd and 44 , ending the drive . In the Fourth quarter , Page Blocked a Lion Punt out the back of the End - zone for a Safety . That year Alan became the first and only defensive lineman to be named NFL MVP . Three Men Combine for One Sack . Late in the 1974 NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams , Page , Marshall , and Bob Lurtsema all got to the Rams quarterback and were all credited with 1 / 3 of a sack . The Vikings went on to win that game 14 - 10 .