MVP Profile: Keith Millard, 1989

Defensive Tackle, Minnesota Vikings

Age:  27

6th season in pro football, 5^th in NFL & with Vikings

College: Washington State

Height: 6’5”   Weight: 262

Prelude:

Millard was the first draft choice of the Vikings in 1984 but spent his rookie season with the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL. He joined Minnesota in 1985 and recorded 11 sacks that year and had another 10.5 in ’86. He became the key figure in the middle of Minnesota’s talented defensive line and was a consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl selection in 1988.

1989 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

(Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20)

Sacks – 18 [3]

Most sacks, game – 4 vs. Green Bay 10/15

Multi-sack games (2 or more) – 5

Interceptions – 1

Int. yards – 48

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Fumble rec. TD – 1

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Divisional playoff at San Francisco)

Sacks – 0

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Player of the Year: AP

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Vikings went 10-6 to finish first in the NFC Central while allowing the fewest yards in the NFL on defense overall (4184) and in passing defense (2501 yards) as well as leading the league in sacks (71). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to San Francisco 49ers (41-13).

Aftermath:

Millard’s 1990 season ended when he suffered a significant knee injury in the fourth game and the resulting two surgeries cost him all of ’91 as well. The Vikings dealt him to Seattle for 1992, but he played in just two games and moved on to the Packers. Millard finished up with the Eagles in 1993. Playing in eight seasons in the NFL, he accumulated 58 sacks (53 of them with the Vikings). At his best, he was an explosive pass rusher from the middle of the defensive line, but his promising career was cut short by injury.

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). Also includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.