According to Ryan Gaydos of FOX News, former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl linebacker Matt Blair of Hilo, Hawaii passed away at the age of 70 on Thursday. Blair died from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a serious neurodegenerative brain disease, that was linked to him playing football.
Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more athletes who participate in contact sports be linked to neurodegenerative brain diseases. Blair was diagnosed with this issue first in 2015, and he would soon have dementia and Alzheimer’s.
From 1974 to 1985, Blair played 12 seasons with the Purple People Eaters and was selected to the Pro Bowl six straight seasons from 1977 to 1982. In 160 games, Blair had 130 starts for the Vikings and had eight sacks, 16 interceptions for 119 yards, and 20 fumble recoveries for 84 yards and one touchdown.
His lone major score came in a 24-20 win over the Chicago Bears in a Monday night primetime game on September 25, 1978. Blair recovered a fumble on a botched lateral attempt by the Bears and ran 49 yards for a touchdown.
Blair’s finest National Football League season came in 1980 when he was a first-team All-Pro. In 14 games, Blair recorded three interceptions for the third straight season, and he also registered a fumble recovery. The first-team All-Pro was the second significant accolade Blair had in his career. He also was on the NFL All-Rookie Team in 1974.
Blair was originally selected in the second round, 51st overall, out of Iowa State. He also attended Northeast Oklahoma Junior College and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. While with Northeastern Oklahoma A & M, he also needed to play on the school’s basketball team to earn his full scholarship.
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