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Paul Krause is a former NFL safety who played for the Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings. He holds the NFL record for most career interceptions with 81 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
- Early Life in Michigan
- Iowa Hawkeye Legend
- Immediate Impact as A Pro
- Despite Success, Krause Is Traded
- Krause Joins A Sleeping Giant
- Super Bowl Highs and Lows
- More Super Bowl Disappointment
- The Beginning of The End
- In Retirement
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Paul James Krause was born on February 19, 1942, in Flint, Michigan. By the time he was a student at Bendle High School in Burton, Michigan, it was obvious Krause had outstanding athletic prowess. He earned 14 letters in football, basketball, baseball, and track. As great as Krause was at football, he once scored a program-record 54 points in a bas...
It’s one thing to play multiple sports in high school. However, it’s very rare for a college athlete to play multiple sports. The amount of practice and preparation necessary to play more than one sport (and maintain the grades necessary to stay eligible) can be overwhelming. That wasn’t the case for Krause. He arrived at the University of Iowa int...
Krause was equally adept on both sides of the ball while playing for the Hawkeyes. However, he was lauded more for his prowess as a defensive back. In the 1964 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins selected Krause in the second round to add depth to their secondary. Coming out of training camp, it was clear Krause was destined to be a starter. He did ...
For the next three years, Krause was a dependable backstop for Washington. From 1965-1967, the Redskins never won more than seven games, but Krause did his best to shut down opponents. During that span, he picked off a total of 16 passes and even returned a fumble for a score in 1965. Despite his stellar play, Washington went looking for linebacker...
He didn’t know it right away, but Krause came to Minnesota at the perfect time. The year before he arrived in Minnesota, the Vikings had hired coach Bud Grant. In Grant’s first year with the club, the Vikings finished a woeful 3-8-3. However, the seeds of success were starting to show. Beginning in 1961, Minnesota began collecting a number of defen...
The turnaround was quick for Minnesota. In 1969, the Vikings hammered opponents and finished the regular season 12-2. Krause had five interceptions including a pick-six and would be named to his third Pro Bowl after the year. In their second ever postseason, Minnesota narrowly defeated the Rams 23-20 in the Conference Round, then crushed Cleveland ...
After picking off four passes in 1973, Krause added two more in 1974. The Vikings went 10-4, beat the Cardinals and Rams in the Divisional and Conference Rounds, and returned to the title game for the second straight year. In Super Bowl IX, Krause had a fumble recovery, but the Vikings faltered again. This time, the Pittsburgh Steelers stole Minnes...
By 1976, Krause’s stats were beginning to tail off, although he was still the heart of Minnesota’s secondary. During the Vikings’ run to Super Bowl XI in ‘76, Krause picked off only two passes. 1977 was more of the same with Krause intercepting two more passes. By the end of the season, Krause was well aware that he was closing in on Emlen Tunnell’...
Krause’s career interception mark of 81 has yet to be broken. Former NFL All-Pro Rod Woodson came closest when he retired after 2003 with 71 interceptions. In 1998, Krause was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His biofor the Hall perfectly sums up his career. After his playing days were over, Krause was elected to the Board of County Comm...
Learn about the life and career of Paul Krause, one of the greatest defensive backs in NFL history. From his college and pro achievements to his trade to the Vikings and his retirement, this article covers his complete story.
Paul Krause was a free safety who played for the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings from 1964 to 1979. He holds the NFL record for most interceptions with 81 and played in four Super Bowls.
Checkout the latest stats for Paul Krause. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference ®
- February 19, 1942
Feb 24, 2024 · Watch the career highlights of Paul Krause, one of the greatest ball hawks in NFL history. He played for Washington and Minnesota, set the record with 81 interceptions, and was a Hall of Famer.
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Dec 30, 2014 · Paul Krause is a Hall of Fame safety that played with the Vikings from 1968 to 1979. He has 81 career interceptions, which is the most by a single player in ...
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- funkydunkleman
Krause was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Redskins (1964-1967) in 1964. He led the NFL in interceptions with 12 as a rookie and was named 1st...
