Minnesota Vikings inspired by Pro Football Hall of Fame

The Minnesota Vikings are in Canton, Ohio for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Sunday, but head coach Mike Zimmer is taking this opportunity to teach his players a few things about the history of the game and how the league has grown since the days old.

A recent article on the Scout.com website features a video with an interview from Zimmer where he spoke about the opportunities that have came from these legends helping to grow and develop the league to get it to the point where it is today. He also saw it as a great opportunity for the young Minnesota Vikings players to learn a lot about the history of the team.

Here is what he said in the interview:

"“I just thought with the team that we have and the youth that we have, I thought it was important that they see some things that gave them the opportunity to do the things that they’re doing right now – making the money, the prestige and how this game grew from really a lot of these past great players,” Zimmer said. “A lot of guys don’t know who some of these older players are.”"

Aug 7, 2015; Canton, OH, USA; General view of the Pro Football Hall of Fame logo helmet at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

For many casual fans, the Pro Football Hall of Fame holds a lot of players who they aren’t familiar with. But each of those individuals who are enshrined there have helped contribute to the sport of football and help get the National Football League to the point where it is today.

That point was brought home even harder when the focus was moved to former Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame tonight.

"“I showed the team a short video on Mick Tingelhoff last night, so they have a better understanding of who he is because it was the 1960s when he was playing,” Zimmer said. “Those things are important to me that we all understand that we’re privileged to do this, especially with all those guys playing and making $5,000 dollars a year and stuff like that; they were getting summer jobs. It’s really a testament to how this league has grown through a lot of these players that are in the Hall of Fame and all of the players, too.”"

It was a very different era when Tingelhoff was playing professional football. The sport wasn’t a career, and these individuals played purely for the love of the game and a small paycheck. Hopefully, these young players on the Minnesota Vikings roster can absorb some of the history that these legendary players can offer and it can help them understand how amazing their opportunities are in the National Football League.

Next: Minnesota Vikings 2015 Game By Game Previews

Minnesota Vikings inspired by Pro Football Hall of Fame

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