Many Thanks Scott Studwell

I'm not sure what the Minnesota Vikings expected when they selected Illinois linebacker Scott Studwell in the ninth round of the 1977 NFL Draft. They knew that they were getting a linebacker that was between Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke in career tackles at Illinois. The Vikings couldn't possibly have known that their ninth-round linebacker would still be with the organization in 2014. Scott Studwell has given more of his time, more of himself, to the Minnesota Vikings than anyone else. He played middle linebacker for fourteen years, 1977-90. As a player, he was a bridge between Jim Marshall and John Randle. He was also a tackling machine. He retired as the Vikings all-time leader in tackles with 1,981. He holds team records for single-season tackles with 230. He had a team record 24 tackles in a game against the Detroit Lions in 1981. He made the Pro Bowl twice and was named All-Pro three times. He was a member of the Vikings 25th and 40th Anniversary teams and named one of the 50 Greatest Vikings in 2010. In 2009, he was inducted into the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor. When Scott Studwell walked off of a football field as a player for the last time he walked into the Minnesota Vikings front office. He's been there ever since. He's worked his way up through the personnel department. Since 2002, he's been the Director of College Scouting. Scouting college players is one of the most demanding jobs in the NFL. It's also one of the most anonymous. Scouts do the vast majority of the work that leads to the NFL Draft but someone else is in the light making the pick. Scouts are on the road pretty much non-stop from June-April. Countless hours. Countless hotels. Countless football fields in every part of the country. After 38 years in the Minnesota Vikings organization, Studwell is finally taking some time for himself. At the conclusion of the 2014 NFL Draft, he stepped down as the Director of College Scouting. He'll continue in a less demanding advisory capacity. His Vikings days are not at an end but the countless hours are. He's more than earned the break.

Former trainer and current team historian Fred Zamberletti is the longest tenured Viking. He's a direct link to 1961. Zamberletti has given the most years. Studwell has given the most time. 14 years as the Vikings middle linebacker and defensive leader. 24 years as a scout and personnel man. Studwell never clocked out from the job. Never taken a break from the job. It never seemed like he ever left the team facility except for a team road trip. Thank you for everything, Scott Studwell.

It seems fitting that the first player selected in the last draft that Scott Studwell worked as Director of College Scouting will wear his old number. UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr will wear #55. Here's hoping that he'll wear it as well.