Mick Tingelhoff, a Hall of Fame, a symbol of toughness and the greatest center in Minnesota Vikings history, has died, the team announced Saturday.
He was 81 years old. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Tingelhoff was a line man from the University of Nebraska, a native of Nebraska, who was not drafted in 1962 and joined the Vikings, with whom he would remain throughout his 17-season career.
As a rookie, Tingelhoff won the initial job and immediately started a streak: he didn’t lose a game, playing 240 while starting each.
Between 1964 and 69 he achieved six consecutive Pro Bowl heads and played in all four appearances of the Viking Super Bowl in the 1970s, before retiring after the 1978 season.
Tingelhoff’s No. 53 is one of six numbers the Vikings have withdrawn and was consecrated to the Hall of Fame in 2015 after being named by the Hall’s top committee.