When the Minnesota Vikings were just a brand-new expansion project with no coach and an empty roster, they needed a face. They needed someone who could take a hit, run like the wind, and maybe most importantly, convince a skeptical public that pro football in the North was going to work. Enter Tommy Mason.
In 1961, the Vikings used their first-ever draft pick on this kid from Tulane. He wasn't just another body on the depth chart. Honestly, he was the foundation of the franchise. Most people today remember the "Purple People Eaters" or Fran Tarkenton's scrambles, but before any of that, there was Mason—the slashing, hard-hitting running back who basically carried the offense on his back while the team figured out how to win games.
He was a triple threat before the term became a cliché. He ran. He caught passes. He returned kicks. He even threw a 30-yard touchdown pass once because, why not? But his story isn't just a collection of stats; it’s a saga of raw talent colliding with the brutal physical reality of 1960s football.
The 1961 Draft: A High-Stakes Gamble
Back in 1961, the NFL and the AFL were in a literal street fight for talent. Mason was a hot commodity. He was a 6-foot-1, 195-pound All-American from Tulane who had just shredded the SEC, leading the conference in rushing with 663 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns.
The Vikings took him #1 overall. The Boston Patriots of the AFL took him #2. Canada was calling, too.
You’ve gotta remember, Minnesota was a massive risk. They had no history. They didn't even have a head coach when they drafted him. Mason’s dad, Bill, worked at a chemical plant, and his mom, Mary, was a nurse. They couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that a team from Minnesota wanted to pay their son $12,000 to play a game. For a boy from Lake Charles, Louisiana, Minneapolis might as well have been the moon.
He chose the NFL. It was the "proven" league, or at least that was the logic. It’s kinda wild to think that $12,500 was the price tag for the league's top prospect, but that was the era. No agents, no massive signing bonuses, just a kid signing a contract in Lake Charles and hoping the snow wasn't as bad as people said.
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A Star is Born in the Cold
Mason didn't waste much time. While he started slow in his rookie year, he eventually became the engine of the Vikings' offense. By 1962, he was a Pro Bowler.
1963 was his masterpiece. He racked up 763 rushing yards and 365 receiving yards, earning the distinction of being the first-ever All-Pro in Minnesota Vikings history. Think about the legends that have worn that jersey since—Alan Page, Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson—and realize that Mason was the one who set the bar.
He was the "do-it-all" star. Coach Norm Van Brocklin once joked, "That is how a guy blocks who has a Cadillac and a banjo." It sounds like a backhanded compliment, but Van Brocklin actually loved the guy. He said if Mason played defense, he’d be the best defensive back on the team. He was that versatile.
The Heavy Toll of the Gridiron
Football in the 60s wasn't kind to bodies. Running behind a "makeshift" offensive line (to put it politely) meant Mason was constantly under fire. He spent nearly as much time in the trainer's office as he did on the field.
He had five knee operations. Two shoulder surgeries.
His teammate Fran Tarkenton, who was drafted the same year, later noted that injuries were the only thing that could stop Tommy. "He was as complete of a running back as they come," Tarkenton said. But by 1965, the wear and tear started to show. A knee injury cost him four games, and even though he still put up 918 yards from scrimmage, the "slashing" style that made him famous was becoming harder to maintain.
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The LA Rams and the "Over the Hill Gang"
In 1967, the Vikings traded Mason to the Los Angeles Rams. It was a change of scenery, but his role changed too. He wasn't the focal point anymore; he was a "spot player" for George Allen.
He spent four years in LA, then finished his career with the Washington Redskins in 1971. By then, he was part of the legendary "Over the Hill Gang." These were veterans—guys like Jack Pardee and Richie Petitbon—who supposedly didn't have anything left but somehow kept winning. Mason didn't play much in those final years, but his presence in the locker room was huge. He finally hung up the cleats officially in 1973.
Life Beyond the 100-Yard Dash
Tommy Mason wasn't just a jock. That’s the most interesting part of his story. He was a guy with layers.
He loved music. He started singing when he was four years old and was a decent guitar player. There’s a famous story from 1960, right before he went pro. After scoring two touchdowns against Vanderbilt, he and some teammates went to the Grand Ole Opry. Next thing you know, Mason is on stage with the legendary Chet Atkins, singing "Cocaine Blues." The crowd went nuts.
After football, he didn't just fade away. He went to law school. He graduated from the Western State College of Law in 1976. Later, he ran a Coors Brewery distribution business in San Bernardino for 17 years. He owned a transmission exchange. He stayed busy.
Personal Struggles and Legacy
Mason’s personal life was often in the spotlight, sometimes more than he wanted. He was famously married to Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby in the 70s. When he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1981, he joked that his wife was getting more attention from the press than he was.
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But the end of his life was a different kind of battle. He struggled with Alzheimer’s, a disease his wife Karen later said he faced with the same humility and humor he had on the field. He died in January 2015 at the age of 75.
His legacy, though, is etched into the record books. He’s still top-ten in several rushing categories for the Vikings. More than that, he was the proof of concept for the franchise. He showed that a team in Minnesota could have a star that the whole country talked about.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you're a student of NFL history or a Vikings fan looking to understand where your team came from, here is how you should view Tommy Mason’s career:
- Look past the rushing totals: In the early 60s, seasons were only 14 games long, and the game was significantly more run-heavy and physical. Mason’s 4,203 career rushing yards were hard-earned in an era where "player safety" didn't exist.
- Understand the "Expansion Era" context: Mason had to be a star for a team that literally had nothing else. His ability to produce without an established offensive line is what made him an All-Pro.
- Respect the versatility: He wasn't just a runner. With 214 career receptions, he was a precursor to the modern "dual-threat" back. If he played today, he’d be a fantasy football god.
- Acknowledge the post-career transition: Mason is a prime example of a player who successfully navigated life after football by pursuing law and business, providing a blueprint for modern athletes.
Tommy Mason wasn't just the first Viking; he was arguably the most important one for a franchise trying to find its soul in the frozen North. He gave them legitimacy when they had none. He ran until his knees gave out, and then he went and became a lawyer. Honestly, they don't make them like that anymore.
Next Steps for Deep Diving: If you're interested in the early days of the Minnesota Vikings, you should look into the 1961 expansion draft to see how they built the rest of the roster around Mason. Alternatively, checking out the "Over the Hill Gang" era of the Washington Redskins provides a fascinating look at how Mason’s career ended among other NFL legends.