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LAROLSEN—

Merlin Olsen

Retired

Los Angeles Rams · DT

Merlin Olsen recorded 100 indexed regular-season NFL appearances across 9 rostered seasons with Los Angeles Rams.

▶Best highlights

0.0

tackles/gm

7

playoff games

9

indexed seasons

100

career games

Five defining games

Start here

A researched consensus introduction to Merlin Olsen's defining games.

Editorial methodology and sources

Cross-checked Pro Football Hall of Fame: Merlin Olsen, postseason and milestone context, and verified Athlore box scores. This frozen editorial order balances the highest-leverage indexed appearances with statistical peaks that represent Merlin Olsen's career; no ranking formula runs in the application.

  1. #1. In the Divisional Round against Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys, Merlin Olsen recorded 2 sacks in the leading indexed performance of this editorial five. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Merlin Olsen
  2. #2. In the Divisional Round against Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys, Merlin Olsen recorded 2 sacks in a performance that preserves an essential part of the career record. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Merlin Olsen
  3. #3. In the conference championship against Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, Merlin Olsen recorded 1 sacks in a performance that preserves an essential part of the career record. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Merlin Olsen
  4. #4. Against Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams, Merlin Olsen recorded 1 interceptions in a performance that preserves an essential part of the career record. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Merlin Olsen
  5. #5. Against Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions, Merlin Olsen supplied a defining performance in a performance that preserves an essential part of the career record. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Merlin Olsen

Reviewed through 2026-08-11

Divisional Round
1976
LOS ANGELESRAMS
DALLASCOWBOYS
DEC 19, 1976

Los Angeles Rams vs Dallas Cowboys

Divisional Round · Dec 19, 1976

0 tackles · 2 sacks · 0 INT

Divisional Round
1973
LOS ANGELESRAMS
DALLASCOWBOYS
DEC 23, 1973

Los Angeles Rams vs Dallas Cowboys

Divisional Round · Dec 23, 1973

0 tackles · 2 sacks · 0 INT

Conference Championship
1976
LOS ANGELESRAMS
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
DEC 26, 1976

Los Angeles Rams vs Minnesota Vikings

Conference Championship · Dec 26, 1976

0 tackles · 1 sacks · 0 INT

Regular Season
1962
GREEN BAYPACKERS
LOS ANGELESRAMS
DEC 16, 1962

Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams

Regular Season · Dec 16, 1962

0 tackles · 0 sacks · 1 INT

Regular Season
1976
LOS ANGELESRAMS
DETROITLIONS
DEC 11, 1976

Los Angeles Rams vs Detroit Lions

Regular Season · Dec 11, 1976

0 tackles · 0 sacks · 0 INT

Single-game peaks

Career highs

Position-relevant single-game records from Merlin Olsen's indexed NFL box scores.

Career high: 2 sacks

Divisional Round
1976
LOS ANGELESRAMS
DALLASCOWBOYS
DEC 19, 1976

Los Angeles Rams vs Dallas Cowboys

Divisional Round · Dec 19, 1976

0 tackles · 2 sacks · 0 INT

Career high: 1 interception

Regular Season
1962
GREEN BAYPACKERS
LOS ANGELESRAMS
DEC 16, 1962

Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams

Regular Season · Dec 16, 1962

0 tackles · 0 sacks · 1 INT

Career chapters

Franchise eras

Follow the team eras that shaped Merlin Olsen's career, in chronological order.

Earliest → latest

Franchise era

1949–1972

01
LAROLSEN—Merlin Olsen
LARBROCKLIN—Norm Van Brocklin
LARJONES—Deacon Jones

Wide-open offense gives way to a legendary line

Los Angeles Rams · Stars and the Fearsome Foursome

Los Angeles produced record crowds, prolific passing and one of football's most feared defensive fronts.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

1973–1989

02
LAROLSEN—Merlin Olsen
LARYOUNGBLOOD—Jack Youngblood
LARDICKERSON29Eric Dickerson

Division dominance keeps colliding with a dynasty

Los Angeles Rams · A perennial NFC power

The Rams won seven straight division titles and reached the 1979 Super Bowl, but Dallas, Minnesota and San Francisco repeatedly blocked the path.

Read the era story →

Career accomplishments

9 NFL seasons100 career gamesJersey: 07 playoff appearancesFirst appearance: Dec 16, 1962Most recent: Dec 26, 1976

Official awards via ESPN · Pro Bowl and All-Pro counts via NFLverse with selection years cross-checked against Wikipedia · league leads verified from indexed regular-season stats

Team history