/ AP

Merlin Olsen, right, of the Los Angeles Rams, battles Atlanta guard Gregg Kindle in Olsen's final regular-season game with Los Angeles on Dec. 4, 1976.

Olsen made a few television cameos during his football career and turned to acting full time after he retired in 1976. He’s best remembered for his role alongside Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert on “Little House on the Prairie” from 1977-81, and on the short-lived “Father Murphy.”

He also stayed in the game as a broadcaster. Olsen wasn’t just some former player who knew football and would weave tales of his playing days into the broadcast. He was well-spoken and smart. The son of a former school teacher, Olsen graduated summa cum laude at Utah State with a degree in economics and earned a master’s in economics in between his 15 NFL seasons.

“Merlin was a valued and cherished member of the NBC family in the 1970s and ’80s. He loomed as large in the broadcast booth as on the football field,” NBC Sports president Ken Schanzer said. “Merlin brought both his knowledge of the game and his humanity to bear on his work.”

Utah State honored Olsen in December by naming the football field at Romney Stadium after him. Because of his illness, Olsen’s alma mater didn’t want to wait until football season and made the announcement during halftime of a basketball game.

Olsen was well enough to attend, but did not speak at the event. He stood and smiled as he waved to fans during a standing ovation and chants of “Merlin Olsen!” and “Aggie Legend!”

Utah State is also planning a statue of Olsen at the southeast corner of the stadium.

“This was the voice of a man who not only became one of our country’s most decorated athletes, but also one of the most accomplished and respected people ever to hail from the state of Utah,” said Stan Albrecht, president of Utah State.

The Rams also honored Olsen during a game Dec. 20, with a video tribute narrated by Enberg. Olsen did not attend because of his health. His name was already part of the Ring of Fame inside the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis along with other franchise standouts.

“I love the game of football,” Olsen said in his Hall of Fame induction speech. “There was some special magic out on that piece of grass out there on that field. And win or lose when I came off that field, it was always coming down. I am sure that the thing I miss most about the game is the people, the very special people and those incredible highs and lows.”

Olsen is survived by his wife, Susan, and three children. There was no word Thursday on funeral arrangements.

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