Minnesota Vikings: Top 10 QBs in franchise history

Aug 8, 2015, Canton, OH, USA; Mick Tingelhoff (right) and presenter Fran Tarkenton pose with the bust the 2015 Pro Football Enshrinement Cermony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

1. Fran Tarkenton

Tarkenton’s history with the Vikings goes back to their very first season in 1961. The QB was picked by Minnesota in the third round of the ’61 draft and was the starter for the franchise’s very first game.

Though Fran himself had some success in his first few years with the Vikings, being named to the Pro Bowl in 1964 and 1966, the team did not win a ton of games and Tarkenton clashed with coach Norm Van Brocklin.

After the ’66 season, the combative Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants where he would spend the next five years.

In 1971 Tarkenton made his way back to Minnesota, now coached by Bud Grant, and helped the team achieve an unprecedented level of success.

Tark led the Vikings to Super Bowl appearances in 1973, 1975 and 1976. Sadly, he and the Vikes would go on to lose all three Super Bowls.

Tarkenton himself won the NFL MVP award in 1975. Fran finished his career as the all-time leading passer in Vikings history with 33,098 yards, a record he still holds (and may hold forever).

Fran entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986. He returned to Canton in 2015 to help induct his old center Mick Tingelhoff.