With Cris Carter's selection for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013, the Vikings have had five Hall of Famers in six years. After looking at the list of eligibles for the 2014 class, it doesn't appear that the Vikings have anyone eligible to make it six in seven years.
Or. . .do they?
According to Dan Wiederer of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Hall of Fame Seniors Committee is going to give "serious consideration" to former Vikings' center Mick Tingelhoff when they meet this year. As Ted detailed in an post last week, Tingelhoff deserves to be in, as his accomplishments pretty much speak for themselves.
Tingelhoff went undrafted out of the University of Nebraska in 1962, and joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent. He took over the starting center job as a rookie. During his tenure with the Vikings, Tingelhoff was voted to six Pro Bowls, was named first-team All-Pro five times, and started every single one of his 240 career games a member of the Vikings, anchoring the offensive line that helped the team to four Super Bowls. His number 53 has been retired by the Vikings, and he is a part of the team's Ring of Honor.
In order to be considered by the Seniors Committee, a player has to be out of the National Football League for 25 years. The initial list of players that meet that criteria will be given to the Seniors Committee on June 1, and the nine-member committee will reduce that list to fifteen through a mail vote. Five members of that committee will then meet with two Hall of Fame consultants in order to select the two players that will be put forth for voting by the Seniors Committee.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame righted one wrong relating to the Minnesota Vikings with Cris Carter's selection a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps this coming year they can right another one and get Mick Tingelhoff into the Hall as well.