Eden Prairie, MN (January 31, 2015) – Former Vikings CMick Tingelhoffhas been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame by the Hall's Board of Electors, becoming the 13th player in Vikings history to earn this prestigious distinction. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Canton, Ohio onAugust 8, 2015** along with Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Charles Haley, Bill Polian, Junior Seau, Will Shields and Ron Wolf.

Tingelhoff was this year's Senior Committee nominee to go in front of the Board of Electors, having been removed from the game for more than 25 years while still having Hall of Fame credentials.

Tingelhoff joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 1962 and started all 240 regular season games and 19 playoff games during his 17-year NFL career, having never missed a start with the club. From 1962-1978, Tingelhoff played a crucial role in helping the Vikings to 10 divisional titles and four Super Bowl appearances.

Serving as a key cog on the Vikings offensive line for nearly two decades, Tingelhoff earned All-Pro honors seven consecutive seasons (1964-1970) and was a Pro Bowl selection six consecutive years (1964-1969). In addition to his duties on offense, Tingelhoff served as the team's long snapper on special teams.

Tingelhoff snapped to Hall of Fame QB Fran Tarkenton and blocked for four runnings backs that earned Pro Bowl honors – Tommy Mason (1962, '63, '64), Bill Brown (1964, '65, '67, '68), Dave Osborn (1970) and Chuck Foreman (1973, '74, '75, '76, '77).

He becomes the third Viking in the past four years (Cris Carter, 2013;Chris Doleman, 2012) to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and seventh in the past 10 years (Carter, 2013;Doleman, 2012;John Randle, 2010;Randall McDaniel, 2009;Gary Zimmerman 2008;Carl Eller, 2004;Ron Yary, 2001).

VOICES ON TINGELHOFF "After beginning his career as an undrafted free agent, Mick went on to become one of the most durable players in NFL history. His streak of 240 consecutive starts over 17 seasons is a testament to his passion and commitment to the game and is worthy of the Hall of Fame. On behalf of the Vikings, congratulations to Mick on this well-deserved honor." – Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf

"Mick was a catalyst for our team and one of the most respected players on those teams. I have no doubt that had he not played center he would have been a Hall of Fame linebacker. He played center with the mentality and tenacity of a linebacker. Mick's intangibles were the thing that made him so great. He was a captain the whole time I coached him and guys looked at him as an example of how to do things."

– Former Vikings Head Coach Bud Grant, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1994

"Mick Tingelhoff played 17 years at an All-Pro level, and in all of those years he never missed a game or a practice. He was smart, really quick, and a fierce competitor. No center in NFL history played at an All-Pro level for as long or as well as Mick Tingelhoff." – Former Vikings QB Fran Tarkenton, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1986

"Mick is a gentlemen. A typical offensive lineman and not one to blow his own horn, but Mick played the center position at a high level for an extraordinarily long time. His teammates speak of him with the utmost respect, which is the ultimate measure of a player. ." – Former Vikings C Matt Birk

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