Minnesota Mourns The Loss Of Vikings Legend Joe Senser

A former Minnesota Vikings player and broadcaster has passed away.

The Minnesota Vikings announced the passing of Joe Senser on Thursday morning. The former Vikings tight end and color commentator was 69 years old.

JOE SENSER PASSES AWAY AT 69

Senser was drafted by Minnesota in the sixth round of the 1979 NFL Draft out of West Chester in Pennsyvania. After catching 42 passes for 447 yards and seven touchdowns from Tommy Kramer in his rookie season, he had a monster sophomore campaign.

The 1981 season saw Senser haul in 79 catches for 1,004 yards and eight touchdowns (seven from Kramer and one from Steve Dils). He was named to the Pro Bowl that season but unfortunately saw his career cut short due to a knee injury suffered in a game with Green Bay in November of 1981.

RECORD FOR VIKINGS YARDS BY A TIGHT END IN A SEASON

He gutted out the rest of the season and finished as the lone Vikings tight end with a 1,000 yard season- a mark that stands to this day.

Senser played in nine games during the 1982 season, missed the 1983 season and played in eight games in 1984 under Les Steckel.

JOE SENSER'S RESTAURANT CHAIN 

Following his playing career, Senser opened a chain of sports bars with the first one opening in Roseville in 1988, followed by Bloomington (1990), Eagan (1998) and Plymouth (2007). All of the locations have since closed.

The Eagan location closed in 2011, Plymouth in 2012 and both Roseville and Bloomington in 2020.

Senser also spent several seasons as a color commentator with the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network, a job he held in 1993-94 and from 2001-2006.