Alan Page

Alan Cedric Page was born on August 7, 1945, in Canton, Ohio. He demonstrated early academic and athletic promise, starring in football at Canton Central Catholic High School. He then attended the University of Notre Dame, playing college football as a consensus All-American in 1966 and leading the Fighting Irish to a national championship in the same year. In 1967, Page was a first-round selection (15th overall) in the NFL/AFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings, marking the beginning of a distinguished 15-season professional football career.

Page played for the Minnesota Vikings for 11 seasons, through 1977. He was a prominent member of the Vikings’ “Purple People Eaters” defensive line, known for its ability to pressure opposing offenses. He appeared in four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX, and XI) with the Vikings. In 1971, Page received the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award, becoming the first defensive player in league history to achieve this honor. He was also named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1971 and 1973. He earned All-Pro honors six times and was selected to nine consecutive Pro Bowls. In 1978, he joined the Chicago Bears, playing with them for four seasons before retiring in 1981.

Following his football retirement, Page pursued a legal career, earning a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1978 while still playing professionally. He worked as an attorney and was appointed Special Assistant Attorney General in 1985, later becoming Assistant Attorney General. In 1992, Page was elected as an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, where he served until 2015. Alongside his legal career, he co-founded the Page Education Foundation in 1988, dedicated to providing financial aid and mentorship for students of color.