Background
Anthony Ronald Yary was born in Chicago and attended Cerritos College for one year and then the University of Southern California, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.
Anthony Ronald Yary was born in Chicago and attended Cerritos College for one year and then the University of Southern California, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.
Yary attended Bellflower High School in Los Angeles County, California.
He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. Yary gave cr for his Hall of Fame induction to his former coaches, John Ashton (high school) John McKay (college) and Bud Grant (professional). He also praised his position coaches Marv Goux, Dave Levy, John Michaels and Jerry Burns.
In October 2001, the school named the football field Ron Yary Stadium.
While attending Bellflower High School, Yary starred in football, baseball, and basketball. As a sophomore in 1965, Yary was voted the Pac-8 defensive lineman of the year and All-West Coast for his play at defensive tackle.
As a junior he was moved to the offensive line where he was a consensus All-American as a junior in 1966 and a unanimous All-American choice in 1967, his senior year. During Yary"s three seasons, the Trojans compiled a 24-7-1 record.
In 1987 Yary was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame.
He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 30, 2012 representing University of Southern California.
Yary was the first overall pick of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, who had traded Fran Tarkenton to the New York Giants for that selection, becoming the first offensive lineman ever to be selected first overall. He played from 1968 to 1981 with the Minnesota Vikings, and 1982 with the Los Angeles Rams. Yary was named All-Pro 6 consecutive seasons (1971-1976) and 2nd Team All-Pro in 1970 and 1977 and was an All-NFC choice from 1970 through 1977.
He played in seven consecutive Pro Bowls, and was a major force in a Minnesota team that was highly successful throughout the 1970s.
He was voted to the 1970s All-Decade First Team after the 1979 season. Yary was also durable and played in spite of injuries.
He missed only two games due to injuries—both coming in 1980 with a broken ankle—in 14 years in Minnesota. Later that same year, he continued to play in spite of a broken foot.
He was inducted to the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2000.
lieutenant would be 29 years before another offensive lineman would be drafted first overall. Which was Orlando Pace, picked by the Rams in 1997.
He became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.