Former Viking Ersell Mackbee Faces Final Days

With his final days coming to an end, a former Viking is hoping he can raise enough money to be sent back to his home town.

Ersell Mackbee’s children are not used to seeing their father laying in a hospital bed with a tube down his throat. But they've been at his bedside at Hennepin County Medical Center around the clock for the past few days, trying to make his final wish come true.

Mackbee played defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings in the late 60's as part of the vaunted "purple people eaters". He even earned a trip to Super Bowl 4, where as number 46 he missed a tackle on wide receiver Otis Taylor, who went on to score touchdown. The Vikings eventually lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.

A stroke, four years ago left Mackbee in a Minneapolis nursing home, partially paralyzed. Doctors removed his feeding tube a few days ago after he developed an infection. With no way to get any nutrients, doctors say he doesn't have much longer to live.

Now Mackbee's family is trying to fulfill his dying wish, to go back to his hometown of Vallejo, California before he passes on. But they need help raising the $25,000 it will cost to pay for a chartered plane and two nurses to accompany him for the flight back home.

For now, Mackbee's children are trying to make him as comfortable as they can.