Honors & Awards
- 17-Year NFL Career (1962-78, Minnesota Vikings)
- Seven-Time All-NFL Center (1964-70)
- Six NFL Pro Bowls (1964-69)
- Starting Center in Four Super Bowls with Vikings (IV, VIII, IX, XI)
- Started 240 Consecutive NFL Games
- Inducted into Nebraska Football Hall of Fame (1980)
- Nebraska Co-Captain (1961)
- Senior Bowl Participant
- All-American Bowl Participant
Career Summary
Mick Tinglehoff was a three-year letterman as a center for Nebraska in 1959, 1960 and 1961. A native of Lexington, Neb., Tinglehoff was an anchor on the Cornhusker offensive line at the end of Coach Bill Jennings' tenure at NU.
The 6-1, 210-pounder from Lexington, Neb., served as one of three Nebraska co-captains as a senior in 1961, when the Huskers finished the year with a 3-6-1 overall record. NU averaged 205.5 yards per game in total offense during Tinglehoff's senior season - the Huskers' highest offensive output since the 1956 season.
As a junior in 1960, Tinglehoff played a reserve role behind captain Don Fricke, who moved back to the position from the fullback spot for his senior season after starting at center for NU in 1958. Tinglehoff earned his first letter in 1959, after joining the Huskers as a freshman in 1958.
Following his senior season at Nebraska, Tinglehoff participated in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and in the All-American Bowl. Although he was not an All-American or an all-conference performer as a Husker, the undrafted Tinglehoff went on to produce one of the longest NFL careers in Nebraska football history.
After signing as a free agent with the Vikings in 1962, Tinglehoff earned a starting job as a rookie and spent his entire 17-year NFL career as a member of Minnesota Vikings, serving as a starter in four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX, XI).
The only player in NU history to enjoy a longer NFL career was Tinglehoff's Husker teammate, Ron McDole, who spent 18 years in the leage from 1961 to 1978 with the Cardinals, Oilers, Bills and Redskins. Irving Fryar, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft, matched Tinglehoff's NFL tenure by spending 17 seasons in the league with the Patriots, Dolphins, Eagles and Redskins.
Tinglehoff was perhaps the most dominant NFL center of his era, earning six trips to the Pro Bowl from 1964 to 1969, including four starts. He was also a seven-time All-NFL selection from 1964 through 1970. Along with being dominant on the field, he was also remarkably durable and made 240 consecutive starts. At the time of his retirement, he had started the second-most consecutive games in NFL history, trailing only his Viking teammate Jim Marshall (270).
Tinglehoff was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
Henry Michael "Mick" Tinglehoff was an All-American, all-state and all-conference center as a senior at Lexington High School in 1957. He was born May 22, 1940, in Lexington, Neb.