John Randle (born December 12, 1967) is a former NFL defensive tackle who played for the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. Born in Hearne, Texas, Randle was raised poor, and worked odd jobs when he was young. His brother Ervin Randle played as a linebacker for eight years. Randle's poor SAT scores found him unable to get a college scholarship, and he started his college playing career at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, before transferring to Texas A&I in Kingsville.
Randle went undrafted, but was picked up by the Vikings during training camp , playing his first season in 1990. He went to his first Pro Bowl in 1993, and was quickly becoming one of the dominant defensive tackles of his era. Once Henry Thomas left the Vikings, Randle increased his training regimen, and became well known for his disarming on-field heckling of opposing players. He had an ongoing rivalry with Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who he sacked more than any other quarterback.
At the end of the 2000 season, Randle signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and retired in March 2004. He had planned to retire a year earlier, but Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren convinced him to stay one more year. Randle left the NFL tied with Richard Dent for 5th in number of career sacks.