Jim Langer

James John Langer (born May 16, 1948) is a former American football center who played for the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings. He is considered one of the greatest NFL centers of all time and a hard working and quick blocker. Langer was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, one of only four Dolphins players to be elected to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility (Dan Marino, Paul Warfield, Jason Taylor).

Langer played middle linebacker at South Dakota State University, where in 1969 he was Honorable Mention All-America. After graduating South Dakota State University with a B.S. in economics, he was signed by the Cleveland Browns as a free agent in 1970, but was cut during training camp. Langer signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins and saw limited action for his first 2 seasons.

Langer became the starter at center in the 1972 season and played in 141 consecutive games over 8 seasons until a knee injury ended his playing days with Miami nine games into the 1979 season. Langer was traded to the Minnesota Vikings prior to the 1980 season, playing 2 seasons with the Vikings before retiring after the 1981 campaign.

During a 6-year stretch in the mid-1970s, Langer was named First-team All-Pro 4 times 1974-1977, and Second-team Team All-Pro twice, in 1973 and 1978. He also appeared in the Pro Bowl each of those seasons. Langer played in three Super Bowls with the Dolphins.

The Jim Langer Award is presented to the nation's top NCAA Division II lineman each year in his honor.

In 2013, President Barack Obama honored the entire 1972 Perfect Season Dolphins at an event in the White House, but Langer declined to attend for political reasons. He told sports columnist Dave Hyde of Ft. Lauderdale's Sun-Sentinel "We've got some real moral compass issues in Washington...I don't want to be in a room with those people and pretend I'm having a good time. I can't do that. If that [angers] people, so be it."