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Joe Senser, a former standout for the Minnesota Vikings, has passed away at the age of 69, as reported by the team on Thursday.
The details surrounding his death have not been made public.
Senser made a name for himself as a tight end with the Vikings from 1980 to 1984 until a knee injury abruptly ended his playing career. Following his time in the NFL, he faced significant challenges, including his wife’s imprisonment for a fatal hit-and-run incident and his own battle to recover the ability to walk and talk after suffering a stroke.
“The loss of Joe Senser is deeply felt within the Vikings family,” stated Mark Wilf, the team’s owner and president. “On the field, Joe excelled as a Pro Bowler, but his influence extended far beyond his football career, impacting both the organization and the community.”
“Joe was known for his generosity and numerous charitable efforts. He infused every interaction with his uplifting presence, whether engaging with former teammates, Vikings employees, or our family as we took on the stewardship of the franchise. The warmth and openness he brought to those who knew him will remain in our hearts.”
Senser was selected by Minnesota in the sixth round of the 1979 NFL Draft out of West Chester and had a team-leading seven touchdowns on 42 receptions for 447 yards as a rookie in 1980.
However, it was nothing compared to his second season when he caught 79 passes for 1,004 yards and eight touchdowns. It earned him his first and only Pro Bowl nod, and made him the only tight end in Vikings’ history with more than 1,000 yards in a season.
Late in that defining season, Senser suffered a knee injury that ended his career prematurely.
He took a low hit after making a catch on a crossing route during a Week 13 game against the Packers and managed to finish the season, but underwent offseason surgeries followed to fully repair the knee.
Following his retirement in 1984, Senser joined the Vikings’ radio broadcast team, serving as the color commentator for the both the 1993 and 1994 seasons and came back for more from 2001-06.
He was also the owner and operator of Senser’s Bar & Grill, which had several locations in Minnesota. They all closed after 30 years.
In 2012, his wife, Amy was convicted on two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in a fatal hit-and-run crash in Minneapolis that saw Anousone Phanthavong, a 38-year-old chef, struck and thrown 50 feet while putting gas in his car after work at 11 p.m. He landed on a ramp along with pieces of Senser’s SUV.
There were no witnesses.
She claimed she left the scene with the belief she hit a construction cone or barrel.
Amy was forgiven by the Phanthavon family, which played a role in changing her as she cared for Joe following his 2016 stroke.
“We never know how strong we are until we’ve gone through something. And then it comes to the other side, and know that you’ve done the best you can and given and shared and helped the best you can, then you think OK,” Amy told WCCO. “I can fight another day.”