Jim Langer facts for kids
Langer in 1969
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| No. 62, 58 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Center, Guard |
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| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | May 16, 1948 Little Falls, Minnesota, U.S. |
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| Died: | August 29, 2019 (aged 71) Coon Rapids, Minnesota, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Royalton (MN) | ||||||||
| College: | South Dakota State | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1970 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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James John Langer (born May 16, 1948 – died August 29, 2019) was an American football player. He played as a center and guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings. BBC Sport called him one of the greatest centers in NFL history. Langer was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. This was the first year he was eligible.
He is one of only five Dolphins players to enter the Hall of Fame in their first year. The others are Dan Marino, Don Shula, Paul Warfield, and Jason Taylor.
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College Football Career
Jim Langer grew up in Little Falls, Minnesota. He lived in Royalton and finished Royalton High School in 1966. He played middle linebacker at South Dakota State University. In 1969, he was recognized as an "Honorable Mention All-America" player. He also played on the offensive line as a tackle and guard.
Langer was also a great baseball player. In his junior year, he was chosen for the second-team All-America as an outfielder. He was the best hitter, fielder, and pitcher for his team. The team won a share of the North Central Conference title.
After college, Langer earned a degree in economics. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 1970 as a free agent. However, he was cut from the team during training camp. Langer then signed with the Miami Dolphins. He played only a little in his first two seasons.
Professional Football Career
Playing for the Miami Dolphins
For his first two years in Miami, Jim Langer played behind an older center named Bob DeMarco. In 1972, DeMarco was traded to Cleveland. Langer then became the main center for the 1972 season. From 1970 to 1979, he played 128 games in a row for the Dolphins. These games included their wins in the 1972 and 1973 Super Bowls.
In 1972, during Super Bowl VII, Langer played every offensive play. The Dolphins won every game that season, going 17-0. They won Super Bowl VII, becoming the only NFL team to have a perfect season. This means they were unbeaten and untied in the league's history.
In 1973, the Dolphins won Super Bowl VIII by beating the Vikings 24-7. Langer was very important in this game. The Dolphins ran the ball 53 times for 196 yards.
In the mid-1970s, Langer was named First-team All-Pro three times (1974, 1975, and 1977). He was also named Second-team All-Pro three times (1973, 1976, and 1978). He played in the Pro Bowl in each of those seasons. Langer played in three Super Bowls with the Dolphins. They lost Super Bowl VI but won Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII. In 1975, he was voted the Dolphins' most valuable player. He played ten seasons with the Dolphins. A knee injury in the 1979 season ended his time with Miami.
Playing for the Minnesota Vikings
Langer wanted to play closer to his home. So, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings before the 1980 season. He played his last two NFL seasons with them. He retired after the 1981 campaign. He played 22 games as a Viking player. He also started one of his 110 career games with the Vikings.
His last NFL game was in 1981. By then, Langer had been to six Pro Bowls. He was a four-time First-team All-Pro player. He was also a two-time Super Bowl champion.
After His NFL Career
In the mid-1980s, Jim Langer worked at the WJON AM 1240 radio station. He was a broadcaster for football games. He helped describe the games for the St. Cloud State University Huskies.
Langer was added to the Dolphins Honor Roll. He was also placed on the Dolphins Walk of Fame.
The Jim Langer Award is named after him. This award goes to the best lineman in NCAA Division II football.
In 2016, the football field at Royalton High School was named after Langer. It is one of 97 high school football fields in America to be named an NFL Hometown Hall of Fame field.
Personal Life
Jim Langer lived in Ramsey, Minnesota. He was married to Linda and they had four children.
In 2013, President Barack Obama honored the 1972 Perfect Season Dolphins team. This event took place at the White House. However, Langer chose not to attend for political reasons. He told sports writer Dave Hyde from Sun-Sentinel that he did not want to be there. He felt there were "moral compass issues" in Washington.
Jim Langer died on August 29, 2019. He passed away at a hospital near his home in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. His wife Linda said it was due to a sudden heart problem.
To honor him, the Hall of Fame flag was flown at half-staff in Canton, Ohio. Langer was the third player from the 1972 Dolphins team to die in 2019. The others were Bob Kuechenberg and Nick Buoniconti.
