MICK TINGELHOFF

Mick Tingelhoff
6' 2" 237 lbs
Center
Minnesota Vikings
1962 - 1978
17 Seasons
240 Games Played (Consecutive)
6 Pro Bowls




Henry Michael Tingelhoff was an undrafted rookie signed by the Vikings before the 1962 season. Mick earned three letters during his collegiate football career at Nebraska University, but did not start until his senior year in 1961. Mick was a co-caption on that team, which had its biggest offensive output in over five seasons. Tingelhoff participated in the Senior Bowl in Mobile , Ala. , and in the All-American Bowl after the season was over. Mick Tingelhoff is a member of the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.



Mick earned the starting job at Center in the second preseason game of his rookie year. It was a role he would not relinquish until he retired after 1978. He made his first All Pro team in 1964, and would attain that honor every year until 1969. 1969 was the year the Vikings were crowned NFL Champions, and went on to play the AFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl IV and lose. He was named to the 1,000-Yard Club in 1969, honoring the NFL’s top blocker. In 1970, he was named to the First Team All NFL by both the Pro Football Writers and Pro Football Weekly. He was named First Team All Conference by the Associated Press and Pro Football Weekly. He was named Second Team All NFL by Newspaper Ent. Association and Second Team All Conference by the UPI. The Vikings went back to the Super Bowl in 1973, before losing to the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings returned to the Super Bowl the following season, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Vikings continued to be an NFL powerhouse throughout the decade and returned to Super Bowl XI in 1976, but lost to the Oakland Raiders. Mick returned after the 1978 season having started every game the Vikings played his entire career. His 240 consecutive starts were then the second most in NFL history, thirty starts behind his Vikings team mate Jim Marshall. The only player in Nebraska University history to enjoy a longer NFL career was Tingelhoff's Husker teammate, Ron McDole, who spent 18 years in the league from 1961 to 1978. Mick has been inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor and has had his #53 jersey retired by the franchise.


Mick's omission from Canton is one of the most confusing in all of my CCC profilees. The numbers are obvious. Mick was one of the most dominant Center's of his era, and defined the true definition of an iron horse. You can easily note his consecutive starts streak, the fact he was a Pro Bowler six straight seasons, and was part of the most dominant team in the NFC during the 1970's. The Vikings were a well balanced offense that scored points off the ground and via the air. Tingelhoff snapped the ball to such great NFL QB'S like Hall Of Famer Fran Tarkenton and Joe Kapp. He also helped pave the way for Vikings great Chuck Foreman, and others, to gain huge chunks of yardage. Much of the yardage Tarkenton acquired thru the air to set a then NFL record in passing yards and passing touchdowns were helped along by Mick's protection. He was a sound technical blocker who used his intelligence, grit, and determination to get the job done better than most Centers who ever played the game. The fact that the voters have passed on him over these years truly shows many hardly pay attention to the battles in the trenches. There is absolutely no question that Mick Tingelhoff belongs in the NFL Hall Of Fame.




Notable Players Noted in 1962 (* Denotes Hall Of Famer)

1. Ernie Davis, RB, Washington
2. Roman Gabriel, QB, Los Angeles Rams
3. Merlin Olsen, DT, LA Rams *
4. Gary Collins, WR, Cleveland
8. Lance Alworth, WR, San Francisco *
10. John Hadl, QB, Detroit
12. Irv Goode, G, Saint Louis Cardinals
16. Joe Carollo, G, LA Rams
40. Pat Holmes, DE, Philadelphia
43. Billy Neighbors, G, Washington
66. Dan Birdwell, DT, Detroit
82. George Andrie, DE, Dallas
88. Jim Bakken, K, LA Rams
93. Fred Miller, DT, Baltimore Colts
104. Gary Ballman, WR, Pittsburgh
115. Ike Lassiter, DE, LA Rams
151. Clifton McNeil, WR, Cleveland
163. Bake Turner, WR, Baltimore
211. Tommy Brooker, DE, Washington
220. Tom Sestak, DT, Detroit
249. Sonny Bishop, G, Cleveland

PAT FISCHER

PAT FISCHER
5'9" 170
Cornerback
1961 - 1977
17 Seasons
213 Games
56 Interceptions
941 Yards
4 Touchdowns
3 Pro Bowls

Patrick Fischer was a 17Th! round draft choice of the Saint Louis Cardinals in 1961. He was the 232nd! player picked overall. Fischer, a Omaha native, went to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln for college. Fischer was a three-time Letterman for Nebraska in 1958, 1959 and 1960. Fischer was a halfback and cornerback, but he also spent time as a quarterback during his senior season. His 17 seasons of NFL service rank him among the longest-serving NFL veterans in Nebraska history, joining his Husker teammates Ron McDole (18 NFL seasons) and Mick Tinglehoff (17 NFL seasons), and Irving Fryar (17 NFL seasons). In 1958, Fischer tied for NU's team lead in touchdowns scored. He also led the Huskers in receiving that year. As a sophomore in 1958, Fischer led NU with 537 all-purpose yards. He averaged 33.7 yards per kickoff return with seven returns for 236 yards, including a touchdown. He added nine punt returns for 139 yards. He also had one punt for 65 yards. He also had his first of two career interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. As a senior, he led the Huskers in total offense. Fischer also led the Huskers in scoring. Fischer was one of the most prolific return specialists in Nebraska history, leading NU in punt return yards, kickoff return yards and all-purpose yards in each of his three years on the field for the Huskers. In 1959, he led Nebraska with 737 all-purpose yards. In 1960, Fischer ranked second nationally by averaging 21.2 yards per punt return. That same season he added 13 kickoff returns for 296 yards (22.8 ypr). He finished 1960 with a team-leading 953 all-purpose yards, he also had one interception as a senior. Fischer led the Huskers in total offense and in scoring in 1960. He was the fourth Fischer brother to play for NU, joining Cletus, Ken and Rex.
Fischer returned a few punts and kick offs in his Cardinal career, as well as catching one pass for 22 yards in his rookie year. He made 2 Pro Bowls in 1964 and '65 for Saint Louis. He signed with Washington as a free agent in 1968. He then made the 1969 Pro Bowl team. He was the teams shut down cornerback on the 1972 Super Bowl team. NFL Films listed Fischer as the Redskins All Time Neutralizer in the 1980's. Fischer is still all over the Cardinals record books. 5th most interceptions with 29, 5th in interception return yardage with 529, 3rd in interceptions returned for touchdowns with 3, 3rd in consecutive games with an interception by accumulating 5, 9th longest for the longest interception return for a touchdown when he took it 69 yards in 1967. In 1964 he returned 2 interceptions for touchdowns, which ranks 2nd in Cardinal history. Fischer also ranks 3rd for most interceptions in a season for the Cardinals, when he snared 10 in 1964. Fischer also ranks 7th all time in Redskin history with 27 interceptions, and 4th all time in interception return yardage with 412. When he retired, Fischer had played in a then NFL record for games played by a cornerback with 213.
Fischer may appear small to those who never saw him play, but those who did know better. His battles with Philadelphia Eagles 6'8" wide receiver Harold Carmichael were legendary. Fisher often was also matched up against Dallas Cowboys wide receiver "Bullet" Bob Hayes, the fastest man in the world at one time. Fischer was a rough "bump and run" style defender full of tricks. One common move he would use was, if an opponent had to catch a pass over his head, Fischer would punch him in the gut or jaw. He made many plays versus the pass, but also excelled in run support. Teams would often work away from Fischer and Ken Houston, when passing, due to their propensity of returning interceptions for touchdowns. Pat Fischer played in an era where defenders had to work harder. The 10 yard chuck rule was not changed to 5 yards until the 1980's. Wide receivers also had to work harder to get open in that era. The rushing attack was the primary weapon, and run support from defensive backs was a must in that era. Players like Deion Sanders may have been relegated to only punt return duty back then, possibly nickel back. Fischer also excelled on special teams, which was a must for head coach George Allen and special teams coach Marv Levy.
Pat Fischer had an excellent career. Is it worthy of Canton? After seeing how long it took a superstar like Emmitt Thomas to get in, and how former great cornerbacks like Louis Wright, Ken Riley, and Lester Hayes are not in yet, it may be a long shot. Still, after looking at how his numbers compare with those cornerbacks that are inducted, there is no doubt in my mind that Pat Fischer should be in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Other notable players drafted in 1961 (*denotes Hall of Fame)

5. Mike Ditka, TE, Chicago *
6. Jimmy Johnson, DB, SF 49ers *
7. Tom Matte, RB, Baltimore Colts
9. Bernie Casey, DB, SF 49ers (notable actor)
11. Billy Kilmer, RB, SF 49ers
12. Herb Adderley, DB, Green Bay *
13. Bob Lilly, DT, Dallas *
29. Fran Tarkenton, QB, Minnesota *
46. Ben Davidson, DL, NY Giants
48. Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd, DT, Chicago
50. Ron McDole, DE, Saint Louis
90. Dick Hoak, B, Pittsburgh
98. Irv Cross, DB, Philadelphia
110. Fred Cox, RB, Cleveland (later a longtime PK for the Vikings)
126. Wayne Fontes, RB, Philadelphia (Head coach of the Lions)
180. Elijah Pitts, DB, Green Bay
186. David "Deacon" Jones, DE, LA Rams *