Joe Senser Dies at 69 After Vikings Career

joe senser died Thursday at age 69, closing the life of a former Vikings tight end whose reach extended from the field into broadcasting and business in the Twin Cities. The Minnesota Vikings said his influence lasted long after his playing days, and that he remained a presence in the organization and community.

Vikings Honor Joe Senser

Mark Wilf and Zygi Wilf said Senser was "a Pro Bowler on the field," and that "his impact on the organization and in the community was felt long after his playing days." They added that he was "a generous soul with countless charitable endeavors" and that he "brought his positive personality to every interaction he had."

The statement also said, "Joe's warmth and welcoming spirit will last in the memories of those who knew him." That line fits the way former teammates remembered him: as a player whose influence did not stop when the whistle blew.

Senser's 1981 Breakthrough

Senser joined the Vikings in 1979 as a sixth-round pick, 152nd overall, out of West Chester in Pennsylvania. Within two years, he produced a season of 79 catches, 1,004 yards and eight touchdowns, then earned a Pro Bowl selection.

Scott Studwell called him "a late-round steal" and said the injury that followed changed the shape of his career. "Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to a knee injury, or he would have taken his place as a true Legend and would have had a hugely productive career with the Vikings," Studwell said.

Green Bay And The Knee Injury

That peak came into focus on Nov. 29, 1981, when Senser had 11 catches for 98 yards and a 13-yard touchdown against Green Bay. He then suffered a severe knee injury on a high-low hit, ending the kind of run that had made him one of the league's most productive tight ends at the time.

Greg Coleman said he first met Senser at Vikings Training Camp in 1979 and still remembered the size and drive that showed up immediately. Coleman said Senser knocked him down in a walk-through drill, then told him, "Touch, you don't understand. I gotta do everything I can to make this team."

Coleman said he watched and encouraged Senser as long as he wore a purple uniform, and Studwell said he stayed active around Vikings fans and the Twin Cities after his playing career ended. For the organization, Senser's death removes a former Pro Bowler who mattered on the field and stayed tied to the franchise's public life long after it.