Sportscaster Merlin Olsen was an American football player, broadcaster, and actor. He played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams from 1962 to 1976. After his retirement from the NFL, he worked as a broadcaster and analyst for CBS and NBC. He also had a successful acting career, appearing in several television shows and films. Olsen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982. His nickname was 'Olsen the Great'.