NFL Hall of Famer and Dolphins Legend Jim Langer Passes Away at 71

One of the best interior offensive lineman in the history of football has passed away.

Hall of Fame center Jim Langer, who played for 12 seasons in the NFL, 10 of which came with the Miami Dolphins and the other two with the Minnesota Vikings, passed away at the age of 71.

An undrafted rookie out of South Dakota State, Langer's rise to NFL stardom was as unlikely and out of nowhere as possible. After two years as a backup, he became the starter for quarterback Bob Greise on Don Shula's undefeated 1972 Dolphins.

An undersized but extremely athletic and tough run blocker, he helped pave the way for a dominant running game led by Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick that helped them win two Super Bowls.

Langer made six Pro Bowls and earned three First-Team All-Pro selections and three Second-Team All-Pro selections. Langer was chosen as the center on the 1970s All-Decade team ahead of Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famer Mike Webster. He was elected to the Hall of Fame alongside Csonka in 1987.

For a while, Langer was considered the prototypical run-blocking center by which all others were judged. He may not be a household name like Shula or Csonka, but he was every bit as important to those legendary Dolphins teams.

Our condolences to the Langer family and the Dolphins organization.