I know I'm not the only "old" Vikings fan on this site, but since I didn't see anyone else post anything about the death of Lonnie Warwick I felt I should write something.

He was the middle linebacker as the Purple People Eaters were formed and came to prominence. Based on what I've seen he was with the Vikings from 1965 through 1972. In an era that is romanticized for the toughness of the players, Lonnie was certainly at or near the top of the list for toughness on those Viking teams.

As an impressionable teenage fan I certainly wasn't qualified to judge how good of a football player he was, but to me he was one of the many "heroes" who played on those teams. While not as celebrated as the front four, the linebacking corps of Warwick, Roy Winston, and Wally Hilgenburg certainly provided their fair share of big plays and big wins.

Although not highly decorated, my sense is that Warwick was underrated as he had the misfortune of overlapping careers with three of the best middle linebackers to every play the game, Butkus, Nitschke, and Nobis, not to mention Willie Lanier with the Chiefs.

Thanks for the memories #59. May you Rest In Peace Lonnie Warwick.