Henry Michael Tingelhoff (May 22, 1940 – September 11, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a center for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) from 1962 to 1978. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Early life
Tingelhoff was born on May 22, 1940, in Lexington, Nebraska, where he grew up on his family's farm. He was the sixth and youngest child of German immigrants Henry and Clara (Ortmeier) Tingelhoff. The family did not get electricity until he was a senior in high school. He attended Lexington High School, playing center and linebacker for the football team. His parents did not think much of football and preferred that he stay on the farm rather than attend college.
College career
Tingelhoff attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln on a scholarship, where he played center and linebacker. He earned three letters during his football career there, but did not become a starter until his senior season in 1961. He was a co-captain of that 1961 team, earning All-Conference and All-State honors, on a team which had its biggest offensive output in over five seasons.
Professional career
After graduating from Nebraska, Tingelhoff entered the 1962 NFL draft but was not drafted and instead signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent in 1962. He became their starting center during his rookie season and held that spot until he retired in 1978. He never missed a game, starting 240 regular season games and 19 playoff games.
Tingelhoff was selected All-Pro by the Associated Press (AP) from 1964 to 1966 and 1968–1969; United Press International (UPI) from 1964 to 1969; the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) from 1965 to 1966, and 1968–1969; and was selected ALL-NFC by the AP in 1970. In 1967, he was named first-team All-Pro by the NEA and UPI and second-team All-Pro by the AP. In 1970, he was named first-team All-Pro by both the PFWA and Pro Football Weekly. He was also named second-team All-Pro by the NEA.
Tingelhoff was one of 11 players to have played in all four Vikings Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s, and is generally considered to have been the premier center of his era. At the time of his retirement he had started in the 2nd most consecutive games (240 games) in NFL history behind teammate Jim Marshall (270), and was tied for third as of 2020.
Legacy and honors
Tingelhoff was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
In 2011, Tingelhoff was named as that year's recipient of the Gerald R. Ford Legends Award. The award was presented to him during the 12th Annual Rimington Trophy Presentation banquet on January 14, 2012, at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska. said Tingelhoff was the “'toughest center I ever played against.'” Tingelhoff had been among the first group of former players filing a concussion lawsuit against the NFL, alleging they were misled about the long-term effects of head injuries, which settled in 2013.