Quarterback Fran Tarkenton and Head Coach Bud Grant talk things over on the Vikings sideline in 1972. After 5 seasons with the Giants Tarkenton rejoined his former team in 1972 and would lead them to 3 NFC Titles over the next 5 seasons.
Giant Fran Tarkenton turns to hand off to Cardinal MacArthur Lane in the 1971 NFL Pro Bowl. Based on their play from the 1970 season, it was Tarkenton's 6th Pro Bowl (4th as a Giant) and Lane's sole Pro Bowl selection of his career after leading the league with 11 rushing touchdowns.
Fran Tarkenton has has to really reach to get the ball to running back Chuck Foreman here. In 1973 The Vikings was ranked #7 in Total Offense with 4231 yards gained. Foreman had a 4.4 YPA with 801 yards rushing and Tarkenton passed for 2113.
Fran Tarkenton spent 5 seasons in New York passing for 13,905 yards and 103 touchdowns. Here he turns to hand off to running back Tucker Frederickson.
The first Giant running back to rush for over 1,000 yards - Ron Johnson of Michigan reached it in 1970 when he wracked up 1027 yards after being traded from the Cleveland Browns.
Fran Tarkenton on the loose against Tony McGee and the Bears in the mid-1970s. Tarkenton left the NFL in 1978 as the top passer in league history. The other Viking here is veteran lineman Milt Sunde who played 11 seasons in Minnesota.
Francis Asbury Tarkenton - entered the NFL as a 3rd round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings - the NFL's latest expansion team in 1961, and retired in 1978 as the league's All Time Leading Passer in Passing Yards, Touchdowns and Completions.
Fran Tarkenton returns to the Vikings in 1972 and joins Bud Grant. The Vikings would make 6 Postseason appearances over the next 7 seasons including 3 trips to the Super Bowl.
Giants quarterback Fran Tarkenton gets the pass away in time as wildman Tim Rossovich closes in.
Fran Tarkenton launches a pass while rolling out against the Houston Oilers in 1974. Tarkenton threw 3 touchdowns in a 51-10 blowout of Houston. #65 coming in from his left is Oilers Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea.
Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton is put to flight by the Denver Broncos defense with Lyle Alzado in front.
Viking quarterback Fran Tarkenton tries to escape the grasp of (we think) Packer rookie Lionel Aldridge sometime around 1963.
Giants quarterback Fran Tarkenton fires off the pass while under pressure from Cowboys Jethro Pugh (#75) & Willie Townes (#71).
Fran Tarkenton (#10) takes to flight in the 1963 season open against the 49ers. Tarkenton completed 20 of 29 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown in a 24-20 win. Viking #53 in the background is Hall of Fame center Mick Tinglehoff.
Tommy Mason - Minnesota's first player to earn All Pro Honors - carries into the brunt of the Chicago Bears defense in 1963. Other players here are rookie Ray Poage (#86), Fran Tarkenton (#10) in the background, center Mick Tinglehoff (#53) and Bear cornerback Bennie McRae (#26).
Fran Tarkenton signal "Touchdown" as Vikings running back Dave Osborn goes up and over the Rams defense in the fourth quarter of the 1974 NFC Title game. Taking a 14-3 lead Minnesota held on to win and advance to play the Steelers in Super Bowl IX.
Fran Tarkenton in action against the Pack in 1973. Lineman #67 is offensive lineman Grady Alderman who played 15 years in Minnesota.
Viking-Browns, we think from around 1965 - Cleveland Pro Bowler Bill Glass makes haste to reach Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton before he can get rid of the ball.
In 1976 the Minnesota Vikings beat the LA Rams to take the NFC Title to go to their 4th Super Bowl. Here Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton gets set to handoff as Rams Hall of Fame defensive tackle looms large in the background.
From 1961 - Vikings vs Packers. Rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton scrambles away and eludes Packers linebacker Dan Currie. Tarkenton brought the quarterback position to a new level with his scrambling abilities. In 4 of his first 6 years in the league he had the most yards lost in sacks.
Rookie QB Fran Tarkenton and head coach Norm Van Brocklin celebrate with the rest of the Vikings team in the locker room following Minnesota's 1961 inaugural game and 37-13 upset of the Chicago Bears. Tarkenton passed for 4 touchdowns and rushed for another.
Cardinals-Giants 1970 - Under pressure from the Cardinals Chuck Walker, Giants QB Fran Tarkenton gets a pass off in the direction of Runningback Joe Morrison (#40).
Shown here during the early end of his 18-year career after he was a 3rd-round draft pick out of Georgia of the expansion team Minnesota Vikings. He would leave the NFL in 1978 as the league's leading All-Time passer in almost every category.
Vikings Hall of Famers Mick Tinglehoff and Fran Tarkenton. Shown here in 1975.
Fran Tarkenton as a New York Giant gets behind runningback Junior Coffey in this late 1960s photo.
Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton gets the pass off while under the rush of Packers great Henry Jordan
Putting the pressure on Fran Tarkenton
Vikings - Packers in 1963, Packers up 30-28. Herb Adderley (#26) blocked a crucial 4th quarter Viking field goal attempt that was returned for an 80-yard touchdown to nail down a 37-28 Packer win. Minnesota kicker Fred Cox is #14 and the holder, #10 is Fran Tarkenton.
A scrambling Fran Tarkenton (#10) is eyed by Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti (#85) as Mike Kolen (#57) moves is in as well.
18-year veteran quarterback. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986. As a rookie in 1961 he came off the bench and passed for 4 touchdowns to lead Minnesota past the Chicago Bears in the Vikings very first NFL game. Still holds the teams All-Time Quarterback wins with 91 as well as the most 100+ Passer Rating Games in a Career with 40. 1st-Team All-Pro in 1975 as well as the NFL MVP that year. 4 Pro Bowls as a Viking and 3 Super Bowl appearances. 1964 Pro Bowl MVP.
In 1986 was the first Viking to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retired in 1978 holding the NFL career records for passing yards (47,003), completions (3,686) and touchdown passes (342). Led Minnesota to 6 NFC Central titles, 4 NFC Championship Games and 3 Super Bowls.
In 1967 was traded to the New York Giants for 2-1st round picks and 2-2nd round picks. A pro Bowler 4 of his 5 seasons there the Giants just couldn't win enough games to get into the playoffs. His career records as a Giant : 69 starts - 33 wins, 13,905 yards, 1898 attempts & 1051 completions - a 55.4% completed - 103 TDs and 72 interceptions. He was traded back to the Vikings in 1972.
Already well know for his scrambling talents he continued to elude defenders even while he was a New York Giant. In his 5 seasons there he ran for 1126 yards, 10 touchdowns and managed a 5.3 YPC average.
The Steel Curtain Descends.
Super Bowl IX was without a doubt, one of his less-distinguishing games. Against the dominating Steelers defense he threw 3 interceptions and finished with a woeful 14.1 QB rating. The Vikings offense didn't score a touchdown.
Pictured above, Steelers All-Pro LC Greenwood applies pressure while another All-Pro, #59 linebacker Jack Ham covers up veteran runner Dave Osborn (#41).
Well known for his scrambling - as of 2019 is still the Vikings #12 All-Time Leading Rusher with 2548 yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. Had a 52-yard TD run against the Rams in 1961.
18-year veteran quarterback. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986. As a rookie in 1961 he came off the bench and passed for 4 touchdowns to lead Minnesota past the Chicago Bears in the Vikings very first NFL game. Still holds the teams All-Time Quarterback wins with 91 as well as the most 100+ Passer Rating Games in a Career with 40. 1st-Team All-Pro in 1975 as well as the NFL MVP that year. 4 Pro Bowls as a Viking and 3 Super Bowl appearances. 1964 Pro Bowl MVP.
Vikings Runningback Dave Osborn (#41) gets out in front of Quarterback Fran Tarkenton to pass block.
