OL / C
Mick Tingelhoff
Class of 2015
All-NFL
7
All-Pro
2
Career games played
240
Pro Bowls
6
Seasons
17
"We don’t get very high or very low from week to week. We try to stay even keel. When we get behind, we don’t get very excited. We go to work and do the job.”
Enshrinement Speech
Career Highlights
Mick Tingelhoff was originally signed by the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent out of the University of Nebraska in 1962. Tingelhoff earned a starting nod at center as a rookie and never relinquished the role for the remainder of his stellar 17-season career.
At 6’2”, 237 pounds, he was known for his durability, toughness and perseverance. He never missed a game and started all 240 regular-season games of his career that ended with his retirement after the 1978 season. He also played in 19 playoff games during his NFL career.
Tingelhoff anchored an offensive line that helped the Vikings claim 10 divisional titles in an 11-season span from 1968 to 1978. Minnesota recorded 10 or more wins during the time of 14-game seasons seven times in an eight-year span.
A team leader, he was adept on pass protection for his scrambling quarterback Fran Tarkenton, who became the NFL’s all-time leading passer. During two different stints in Minnesota, the Hall of Fame quarterback eclipsed the 2,500-yard passing mark nine times. Tarkenton became the Vikings’ first 3,000-yard passer when he aired it out for a franchise record 3,468 yards in Tingelhoff’s final season. A great run blocker, Tingelhoff also paved the way for Chuck Foreman, who strung together three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons (1975-77).
Tingelhoff guided the Vikings to victories in four of the five NFL/NFC championships in which the team played and helped the club reach four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX, and XI).
As a center, he had to take on opponents’ middle linebackers, and he played in an era and a division that included three notable Hall of Famers in Joe Schmidt of the Detroit Lions, Ray Nitschke of the Green Bay Packers and Dick Butkus of the Chicago Bears.
Tingelhoff received national accolades by his third season in 1964 that marked the first of seven consecutive seasons in which he was named first-team All-NFL. In 1969, he was named to the 1,000-yard Club as the NFL’s top blocker. He was also elected to the Pro Bowl six consecutive years from 1965 to 1970. Tingelhoff was inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2001.
Durable, Reliable, 'Quick Mick' Tingelhoff: 1940-2021
Pro Football Hall of Famer Mick Tingelhoff passed away Sept. 11, 2021, at the age of 81.
“The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Mick Tingelhoff. He was a true hero of the game,” said David Baker, President and CEO of the Hall of Fame. “Mick was a tenacious and persevering competitor with the kindest of hearts and the brightest of smiles."
Read the full tribute article honoring Tingelhoff here.
| Year | Team | G |
| 1962 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1963 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1964 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1965 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1966 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1967 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1968 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1969 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1970 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1971 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1972 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1973 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1974 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1975 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1976 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1977 | Minnesota | 14 |
| 1978 | Minnesota | 16 |
| Career Total | 240 | |
Championship Games
1969 NFL – Minnesota Vikings 27, Cleveland Browns 7
Tingelhoff started the game at center.
1973 NFC – Minnesota Vikings 27, Dallas Cowboys 10
Tingelhoff started the game at center. He had one fumble recovery
1974 NFC – Minnesota Vikings 14, Los Angeles Rams 10
Tingelhoff started the game at center.
1976 NFC – Minnesota Vikings 24, Los Angeles Rams 13
Tingelhoff started the game at center.
1977 NFC – Dallas Cowboys 23, Minnesota Vikings 6
Tingelhoff started the game at center.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl IV – Kansas City Chiefs 23, Minnesota Vikings 7
Tingelhoff started the game at center.
Super Bowl VIII – Miami Dolphins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7
Tingelhoff started the game at center.
Super Bowl IX – Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Minnesota Vikings 6
Tingelhoff started the game at center.
Super Bowl XI – Oakland Raiders 32, Minnesota Vikings 14
Tingelhoff started the game at center.
| All-League Teams |
All-Pro: 1968 (PFWA) • 1969 (HOF, PFWA, NEA)
All-NFL: 1964 (AP, UPI) • 1965 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY) • 1966 (AP, UPI, NEA, PFWA, NY) • 1967 (UPI, NEA, NY) • 1968 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY, PW) • 1969 (AP, UPI, NEA, PW, NY) • 1970 (PFWA, PW)
All-NFL Second Team: 1964 (NEA) • 1967 (AP) • 1970 (NEA)
All-Western Conference: 1964 (AP) • 1965 (SN) • 1966 (SN) • 1967 (SN) • 1968 (SN) • 1969 (SN)
All-NFC: 1970 (AP, PW)
All-NFC Second Team: 1970 (UPI)
| Pro Bowls |
(6) – 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970
| In the NFL Record Book |
(at time of his retirement following 1978 season)
• [2nd] Most Consecutive Games Played – 240
| Team Records |
Vikings records held by Tingelhoff
(Records through the 1978 season, Tingelhoff’s final season with Minnesota)
• [2nd] Most Consecutive Games Played – 240
Postseason Records
• [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Playoff Games Started, Career – 19
• [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Playoff Games Played, Career – 19
• [Tied for 1st] Most Playoff Games Played, Career – 19
• [Tied for 1st] Most Playoff Seasons, Career – 10
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Super Bowls Played, Career – 4
| Awards and Honors |
• 1969 National 1,000 Yard Club Award (NFL’s Outstanding Blocker)
| Year-by-Year Team Records |
| Year | Team | W | L | T | Division Finish |
| 1962 | Minnesota Vikings | 2 | 11 | 1 | (6th) |
| 1963 | Minnesota Vikings | 5 | 8 | 1 | (5th) |
| 1964 | Minnesota Vikings | 8 | 5 | 1 | (3rd) |
| 1965 | Minnesota Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | (5th) |
| 1966 | Minnesota Vikings | 4 | 9 | 1 | (7th) |
| 1967 | Minnesota Vikings | 3 | 8 | 3 | (4th) |
| 1968 | Minnesota Vikings | 8 | 6 | 0 | (1st) |
| 1969 | Minnesota Vikings | 12 | 2 | 0 | (1st) |
| 1970 | Minnesota Vikings | 12 | 2 | 0 | (1st) |
| 1971 | Minnesota Vikings | 11 | 3 | 0 | (1st) |
| 1972 | Minnesota Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | (3rd) |
| 1973 | Minnesota Vikings | 12 | 2 | 0 | (1st) |
| 1974 | Minnesota Vikings | 10 | 4 | 0 | (1st) |
| 1975 | Minnesota Vikings | 12 | 2 | 0 | (1st) |
| 1976 | Minnesota Vikings | 11 | 2 | 1 | (1st) |
| 1977 | Minnesota Vikings | 9 | 5 | 0 | (1st) |
| 1978 | Minnesota Vikings | 8 | 7 | 1 | (1st) |
Full Name: Henry Michael Tingelhoff
Birthdate: May 22, 1940
Birthplace: Lexington, Nebraska
High School: Lexington High School (NE)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 31, 2015
Other Members of the Class of 2015: Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Charles Haley, Bill Polian, Junior Seau, Will Shields, Ron Wolf
Pro Career: 17 seasons, 240 games
Transactions: Signed as a free agent by Minnesota, 1962
Uniform Number: 53
Fran Tarkenton on behalf of Mick Tingelhoff:
Mick's a man of little words but a lot of action. He's so proud to be in this Class of 2015. He waited 37 years to get to the Hall of Fame. He just wanted me to tell all of his teammates who are here and thank them for being here, our great coach and fellow Hall of Famer, Bud Grant, all of the Viking fans who have come from all over the country and all the rest of you fans, and even you Steeler fans who beat us in that Super Bowl. Thank you.