NFL Quarterback Fran Tarkenton was a third-round pick in 1961 from Georgia. 18 total seasons between the Minnesota Vikings (1961-66, 1972-78) and the New York Giants (1967-1971). An instant star with 4 TD passes coming off the bench to beat the Bears 37-13 in the 1st game in Minnesota Vikings franchise history vs. Chicago (9/17/61). Traded to New York Giants in 1967 and then back again to the Vikings in 1972.

At his retirement in 1978 he led all lifetime NFL passers in attempts (6,467), completions (3,686), passing yards (47,003) and TD passes (342). The 1975 NFL Most Valuable Player. Rushed for 3,674 yards and 22 touchdowns. Led Vikings to 3 Super Bowls (VIII, IX, XI). A 4-time All-NFL selection. Played in 5 Pro Bowls representing Minnesota. Member of 50 Greatest Vikings team named in 2010. Born February 3, 1940, in Richmond, VA. Inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor on September 9, 1998.


Image Gallery of Fran Tarkenton, Quarterback, 1961-1978

Fran Tarkenton, Quarterback 1961 to 1978


Fran Tarkenton Football Cards


All-Time Career Passing:

Year Age Team Games QB Rec Comp Att Comp% Yards TD Int Long Y/A Rate Sacked
1961 21 MIN 14 2-8-0 157 280 56.1 1997 18 17 71 7.1 74.7
1962 22 MIN 14 2-11-1 163 329 49.5 2595 22 25 89♦ 7.9 66.9
1963 23 MIN 14 4-8-1 170 297 57.2 2311 15 15 67 7.8 78.0
1964* 24 MIN 14 8-5-1 171 306 55.9 2506 22 11 64 8.2 91.8
1965* 25 MIN 14 7-7-0 171 329 52.0 2609 19 11 72 7.9 83.8
1966 26 MIN 14 4-7-1 192 358 53.6 2561 17 16 68 7.2 73.8
1967* 27 NYG 14 7-7-0 204 377 54.1 3088 29 19 70 8.2 85.9
1968* 28 NYG 14 7-7-0 182 337 54.0 2555 21 12 84 7.6 84.6
1969* 29 NYG 14 6-8-0 220 409 53.8 2918 23 8 65 7.1 87.2 36
1970* 30 NYG 14 9-5-0 219 389 56.3 2777 19 12 59 7.1 82.2 36
1971 31 NYG 13 4-9-0 226 386 58.5 2567 11 21 81 6.7 65.4 27
1972 32 MIN 14 7-7-0 215 378 56.9 2651 18 13 76 7.0 80.2 26
1973 33 MIN 14 12-2-0 169 274 61.7 2113 15 7 54 7.7 93.2 31
1974* 34 MIN 13 9-4-0 199 351 56.7 2598 17 12 80 7.4 82.1 17
1975*+ 35 MIN 14 12-2-0 273♦ 425♦ 64.2 2994 25♦ 13 46 7.0 91.8 27
1976* 36 MIN 13 10-2-1 255♦ 412 61.9 2961 17 8 56 7.2 89.3 25
1977 37 MIN 9 6-3-0 155 258 60.1♦ 1734 9 14 59 6.7 69.2 22
1978 38 MIN 16 8-7-1 345♦ 572♦ 60.3 3468♦ 25 32♦♥ 58 6.1 68.9 27
13 seasons Vikings 177♥ 91-73-6 2635♥ 4569♥ 57.7 33098♥ 239♥ 194♥ 89 7.2 80.1 175
% seasons Giants 69 33-36-0 1051 1898 55.4 13905 103 72 84 7.3 81.0 99
18-Year NFL Career 246 124-109-6 3686 6467 57.0 47003 342 266 89 7.3 80.4 274

All-Time Career Rushing:

Year Age Team Games Rush Yards TD Long Y/A Fmb
1961 21 MIN 14 56 308 5 52 5.5 8
1962 22 MIN 14 41 361 2 31 8.8 5
1963 23 MIN 14 28 162 1 24 5.8 7
1964* 24 MIN 14 50 330 2 31 6.6 6
1965* 25 MIN 14 56 356 1 36 6.4 5
1966 26 MIN 14 62 376 4 28 6.1 8
1967* 27 NYG 14 44 306 2 22 7.0 4
1968* 28 NYG 14 57 301 3 22 5.3 2
1969* 29 NYG 14 37 172 0 21 4.6 7
1970* 30 NYG 14 43 236 2 20 5.5 3
1971 31 NYG 13 30 111 3 16 3.7 4
1972 32 MIN 14 27 180 0 21 6.7 3
1973 33 MIN 14 41 202 1 16 4.9 5
1974* 34 MIN 13 21 120 2 15 5.7 2
1975*+ 35 MIN 14 16 108 2 21 6.8 1
1976* 36 MIN 13 27 45 1 20 1.7 4
1977 37 MIN 9 15 6 0 8 0.4 3
1978 38 MIN 16 24 -6 1 15 -0.3 7
13 seasons Vikings 177 464 2548 22 52 5.5 64
5 seasons Giants 69 211 1126 10 22 5.3 20
18-Year NFL Career 246 675 3674 32 52 5.4 84

Career Playoff Passing:

Year Age Team Games QB Rec Comp Att Comp% Yards TD Int Long Y/A Rate Sacked
1973 33 MIN 3 2-1 44 77 57.1 537 3 3 54 7.0 75.5 7
1974* 34 MIN 3 2-1 34 69 49.3 394 3 6 38 5.7 45.2 3
1975*+ 35 MIN 1 0-1 12 26 46.2 135 0 1 40 5.2 46.2 4
1976* 36 MIN 3 2-1 41 83 49.4 518 4 5 57 6.2 60.2 5
1978 38 MIN 1 0-1 18 37 48.6 219 1 2 31 5.9 53.8 1
Career 11 6-5 149♥ 292♥ 51.0 1803♥ 11♥ 17♥ 57 6.2 58.6 20
  • + - All-Pro Selection
  • * - Pro Bowl Selection
  • ♦ - Led the League
  • ♥- Franchise Record

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Owner/Operator of NFL Past Players. Also runs New Orleans Saints History