Grady Alderman

Grady Charles Alderman (December 10, 1938 – April 5, 2018) was an American professional football player and executive. He played principally as an offensive tackle for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), mostly with the Minnesota Vikings. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times, and was the last player from the original Vikings expansion draft to play for the team.

Early life Alderman was born on December 10, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan to Cecil and Grace Alderman. He attended Madison High School in Madison Heights, Michigan, where he played high school football. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He was second-team All-Catholic All-American in 1959. He was named a member of the Detroit Mercy Titans Hall of Fame. He played sparingly in 11 games for the Lions in 1960, starting only one (at guard). In 1961, the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the January 26, 1961 expansion draft. He started 14 games at left tackle in his initial season with the Vikings (1961).

Alderman played in 193 regular season games for the Vikings, chiefly at left tackle. He started 176 games for the Vikings from 1961 to 1974. He was selected to six Pro Bowls in a seven-year span (1963–1967, 1969), and was twice named a second-team All-Pro (1965 and 1969). He missed only three games in 14 years with the Vikings. Alderman lived another 44 years.

After being the Vikings’ offensive captain again in 1974, the team waived him in June 1975, and he was quickly claimed by the Chicago Bears. In 1975, he ended his professional playing career in the Chicago Bears training camp, as a player then coach, and did not play another official game. The Vikings had selected future Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton in the third round of the 1961 NFL draft, held on December 27-28, 1960. He played for the Vikings alongside Alderman from the team’s inception in 1961 to 1966; and then again years later from 1972 to 1978 (1972-74 with Alderman). Alderman was the first player Tarkenton met during the Vikings first training camp. He was traded back to the Vikings before the 1972 season and finished his career in Minnesota. and played 19 consecutive seasons for the Vikings (1961-1979), starting every Vikings game during those 19 seasons. This made Marshall the last Viking who played for the inaugural 1961 team at the time he retired, Tarkenton the last original Viking taken in the NFL draft at the time he retired, and Alderman the last original Viking taken in the 1961 expansion draft at the time he retired.

Fran Tarkenton described Alderman and Marshall as the cornerstones of the Vikings teams of that era. Hall of Fame Minnesota coach Bud Grant said of Alderman, "'He was a great leader, respected, smart and played left tackle which is a very valuable position on the field and was good at it. He was very, very intelligent, and it showed in how he played.'" He had also been named to the Vikings’ 25th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Post-playing professional football career

Broadcaster for Vikings After leaving the Bears, for the next four years Alderman did color commentary for radio broadcasts of the Vikings' games.

Business development with Vikings Alderman then became the Director of Planning and Development for the Vikings. He used his financial experience to work with the Vikings in overseeing the construction of the team's headquarters (Winter Park); and then in managing a $25 million investment earmarked for construction of the Vikings new sports stadium (the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome). Alderman was the Bronco's general manager from March 1981 until December 1982.

Personal life Alderman was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). During the off seasons of his playing career, he worked as a CPA for Deloitte, Haskins & Sells.