Grady Alderman

Grady Charles Alderman (December 10, 1938 – April 5, 2018) was an American professional football player and executive who played principally as an offensive tackle for 15 seasons in the National Football League. Born in Detroit, Michigan, to Cecil and Grace Alderman, he attended Madison High School in Madison Heights, Michigan, where he played high school football. He went on to the University of Detroit Mercy, playing on its football team as an offensive lineman from 1957 to 1959 and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. As a senior he was one of two players named the team's most valuable linemen and was a second-team All-Catholic All-American in 1959.

The Detroit Lions selected Alderman in the tenth round of the 1960 NFL draft, 111th overall. He played sparingly in 11 games for the Lions in 1960, starting only one, at guard. In 1961 he joined the Minnesota Vikings, with whom he spent the bulk of his career. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times and was the last player from the original Vikings expansion draft to remain with the team.

Alderman was later named a member of the Detroit Mercy Titans Hall of Fame. He died on April 5, 2018, at the age of 79.