15-year NFL veteran Ron Yary holds the distinction of being the first offensive lineman to be the chosen #1 overall in the college draft. The Minnesota Viking picked the All-American from USC with their first pick of the 1968 college draft. By 1969 he was on his way to establishing himself as one league’s top offensive tackles. He started a total of 180 games and missed only 2 games from 1970 to 1981 – and that was because of a broken ankle.
Ron Yary made the NFL All Pro team 6 times and the Pro Bowl 7. Selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-1970s Decade Team as well as the Pro Football Reference All 1970s Team.
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.