Hall of Fame profile: Vikings C Mick Tingelhoff
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015 gets inducted on Aug. 8. Shutdown Corner will profile the eight new Hall of Famers, looking at each of their careers and their impact on the game.
Mick Tingelhoff
Minnesota Vikings (1962-1978)
Center
Greatest moment
Tingelhoff signed with the Vikings as a free agent after a distinguished career at the University of Nebraska at center. Tingelhoff won the starting job at center during his rookie year and never gave it up until he retired – 17 years later. 
Perhaps Tingelhoff’s greatest trait was his durability, never missing a game in a career that had 240 of them. He anchored a line that protected NFL legend Fran Tarkenton, allowing the famed quarterback to, at the time, set the all-time record for passing yards. He was also a great run blocker, paving the way for Chuck Foreman to string together three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons between 1975 and 1977.
Tingelhoff was routinely tasked with stopping the game’s best middle linebackers. And there were plenty of games where he protected the quarterback with relative ease, as well as provided effective blocking for his running backs. One game of note was the Vikings’ 42-41 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in 1965. Tingelhoff allowed only one sack during the game while protecting Tarkenton as he passed for 407 yards and three touchdowns. Tingelhoff also helped the running backs gain 154 on the ground and three touchdowns.
Impact on the game
Tingelhoff is widely considered the best center of his era. He helped lead the Vikings to 10 division titles in an 11-year span. He also guided the Vikings to victory in four out of five NFC championship games. He was named to six consecutive Pro Bowls, as well as seven consecutive All-Pro/NFL teams.
Case against his bust in Canton
In an age when players are more liked and respected for their ability to create highlight-reel moments, Tingelhoff, a center, isn’t the most obvious choice. He never made eye-popping blocks. He never picked up defenders and slammed them into the turf. Also, the fact that the Vikings made it to four Super Bowls, yet never emerged victorious is a sticking point for some voters.
Case for his bust in Canton
The most durable offensive linemen are the ones who become Hall of Famers. And if anyone was Mr. Durability, it was Mick Tingelhoff. And it wasn’t like he never got injured. He just played through everything.
He rarely made mistakes on the field, and for a position solely judged on its ability to protect, Tingelhoff never wavered from that.
Memorable quote
“Mick may have had one bad snap in 17 years of football. And that includes snapping on field goals and extra points. His consistency was almost unbelievable.” – Teammate Ron Yary at Tingelhoff’s jersey retirement ceremony in 2001.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015 profiles
July 31: Ron Wolf
Aug. 1: Mick Tingelhoff
Aug. 2: Will Shields
Aug. 3: Junior Seau
Aug. 4: Tim Brown
Aug. 5: Charles Haley
Aug. 6: Jerome Bettis
Aug. 7: Bill Polian
