Vikings legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mick Tingelhoff passes away

Legendary Minnesota Vikings center and Hall of Famer Mick Tingelhoff passed away on Saturday at the age of 81.

The Minnesota Vikings received sad news on Saturday afternoon regarding the passing of a franchise legend.

The team announced that longtime center and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Mick Tingelhoff passed away on Saturday at the age of 81.

Vikings release statement on the passing of center Mick Tingelhoff

“Mick Tingelhoff was the anchor of the great Vikings teams during an amazing era that included four Super Bowls,” the Wilf family said in a statement, via Vikings.com. “A humble but strong leader, he defined toughness. Mick’s legacy will live on as a Hall of Famer, on the field and off the field. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Tingelhoff joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 1962, where he earned the starting center job as a rookie. He would never miss a game for Minnesota in his 17-years with the team. In fact, Tinglehoff started 240 consecutive games, which is the most all-time by a center in the NFL.

In his career, Tingelhoff played a role in the team winning the NFL championship in 1969 with a 27-7 win over the Cleveland Browns, and for making it to the Super Bowl four times. Additionally, the center was named to six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro five times.

Tinglehoff had his No. 53 retired by the Vikings in 2001. He received induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.