"I'm so deeply saddened to learn today of his passing. Merlin has been longtime dear friend of mine. I don't think I ever met a more impressive, talented individual in my life. When you think of the role model of what a student-athlete should be, he really had to be the poster boy. He was really one of the great football players in U.S. history.
But as talented and gifted as he was, in my mind he was even more impressive off the field, quite honestly. He kind of had that Paul Bunyan size, but he was so, so gentle, loving and soft spoken. I think anybody who ever met him walked away with a lasting impression of, boy, what a great guy. I lost a dear friend today."
Tom Larscheid former USU halfback and honorable mention All-American, now a color commentator for the Vancouver Canucks
"He was ferocious and fearless on the football field, and then the other probably more important aspect of his personality was he was a true gentleman. We all know what a wonderful, tremendous football player he was, but he was so much more than that.
When you stop and think of Merlin on the field, he accomplished things that will never be accomplished again. If it hadn't been for Merlin Olsen, I wouldn't have turned out to be the football player that he helped mold and make."
Jack Youngblood former Rams teammateand fellow Hall of Famer
"Merlin Olsen was an extraordinary person, friend and football player. He was a tremendous Hall of Fame football player who then became an accomplished football broadcaster and actor. In recent years, it was an honor to work with Merlin on developing improvements for retired players. We all experienced how passionate and effective he was on that issue.
He cared deeply about people, especially those that shared the game of football with him. Merlin was a larger-than-life person, literally and figuratively, and leaves an enormously positive legacy. On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our deepest sympathy to Merlin's wife, Susan, and the Olsen family."
Roger Goodell NFL commissioner
"He was about as good as they come, an unbelievably great person. He was a very brilliant person, very smart. I used to say, 'We need you to run for office.' We need people like that. He was true to whatever he believed in. It was a loss to our state and to a lot of people. He was a good friend and a great ambassador for Utah State University and for Utah."
Phil Johnson,Utah Jazz assistant coach