Before the athletic trainers were "certified", before we all knew their names, Fred Zamberletti roamed the sidelines of Minnesota Vikings practices and games as the team's first athletic trainer.
Taking the job in 1961 when the franchise first began, Zamberletti held the position and never missed a game or practice until 2011. That was 1,049 consecutive contests before an illness prevented him from flying to Washington. His work was so noted that he was named the Athletic Trainer of the year in 1986 and again in 1996 his staff was named training staff of the year.
Zamberletti was named to the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2008 and served as the team's historian for years following his retirement.