Legendary Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff dies at age 81
In this Sept. 24, 1975, file photo, Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff eyes a punt down field during practice as he prepares for his 174th consecutive regular season NFL football game in St. Paul, Minn. Tingelhoff, the ultimate ironman who started 240 consecutive games at a bruising position for the Minnesota Vikings and played in four Super Bowls, died, the Vikings and the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. He was 81.[Jim Mone/Associated Press]
Pro Football Hall of Famer and Vikings legend Mick Tingelhoff has passed away at the age of 81, the team announced on Saturday.
Our hearts are heavy as we announce the passing of #Vikings Legend Mick Tingelhoff.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 11, 2021
Undrafted in 1962, he helped set the franchise standard for toughness as he started 240 consecutive games throughout his @ProFootballHOF career. pic.twitter.com/ZYwcAkCsqp
A true ironman in the National Football League, Tingelhoff starting 240 straight games as the Vikings center from 1962 to 1978. His No. 53 is retired by the Vikings and he was named to the team’s Ring of Honor in 2001. Considered the best center in Vikings history, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Tingelhoff is one of only 11 Vikings to play in each of their four Super Bowl appearances. His 240-game streak ranks second in NFL history behind two others that played for the Vikings: Brett Favre (297) and Jim Marshall (270).
Selected to six Pro Bowls, Tingelhoff joined the Vikings as an undrafted rookie out of the University of Nebraska in 1962.