Minnesota Vikings: Every QB in franchise history, ranked
By Dan Zinski
40. Jay Walker (1996-1997)
A current member of the Maryland House of Delegates, Walker spent two seasons with the Vikings, making just one garbage-time appearance for the team. Walker finished his NFL career 2-for-2 for 31 yards.
39. Shaun Hill (2002-2005, 2015-present)
The Vikings initially signed him as a UDFA in 2002 and he famously made only one appearance with the team during that first stint, kneeling down to end a game. Hill came back in 2015 to backup Teddy Bridgewater and actually got to throw a couple passes. The 36-year-old veteran will enter training camp this year as the #2 QB. The Vikings would save $3.25 million against the cap if they were to cut Hill.
38. John David Booty (2008-2009)
Brad Childress and the Vikings drafted him in the fifth round in 2008 with an eye toward grooming him as Tarvaris Jackson‘s backup. Everything changed for Minnesota when they signed Brett Favre, a move that forced Booty to give up his #4 jersey. Booty was cut at the end of camp in 2009 and signed to the practice squad. He never threw a regular season pass for Minnesota but he’s in the top 40 because his name is fun to say.
37. John McCormick (1962)
The late John McCormick served as Fran Tarkenton‘s backup in 1962 and also punted, finishing the year with a 39 yards-per-punt average to go with his 104 passing yards and five interceptions.
36. Bubby Brister (2000)
At 38-years-old, the venerable Brister joined the 2000 Vikings to serve as Daunte Culpepper‘s backup. He saw a little action late in the season, throwing 18 passes in a loss to Indianapolis after Culpepper was knocked out with an injury. Brister would retire after the season.
35. McLeod Bethel-Thompson (2012-2014)
The big-armed MBT will always be remembered for two things: his preseason exploits and the way Vikings play-by-play man Paul Allen enjoyed saying his full name “McLeod John Baltazar Bethel-Thompson.” Many fans may be surprised to learn that MBT never threw a pass in a regular season game for the Vikings. Not one. But he sure had a cannon.
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34. Jay Fiedler (1998)
Dartmouth QB Jay Fiedler had a front-row seat for Randall Cunningham and the Vikings’ epic 15-1 1998 season. With Brad Johnson hurt much of the year and Minnesota putting up points at an unprecedented rate, Fiedler got to see plenty of mop-up duty as well, finishing the year 3-for-7 for 41 yards and one interception. He would go on to have a decent run as a QB in Jacksonville and Miami.
33. Norm Snead (1971)
Snead was drafted by the Redskins with the second overall pick in 1961 and went on to a successful 17-year career with multiple teams, finishing with 30,797 career yards and 196 touchdowns. Snead’s 1971 campaign with the Vikings was not one of his better seasons however. In seven games including two starts, Snead threw for 470 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions. In ’72 Snead was part of the trade that brought Fran Tarkenton back to the Vikes.
32. George Shaw (1961)
A one-time first overall pick by the Colts, Shaw spent a single season in Minnesota as Fran Tarkenton’s backup. Shaw would see plenty of action that year in relief of Tark, finishing with 530 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. In ’62 he moved on to Denver.
31. Kelly Holcomb (2007)
How dire was the Vikings’ QB situation in 2007? The team was forced to send a sixth-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for journeyman Kelly Holcomb. Sadly, the 34-year-old Holcomb didn’t have a heck of a lot left in the tank by that time. He started three games, all Vikings losses, and finished the season with a QB rating of 73.1. The Vikes would finally give in and turn the keys over to Tarvaris Jackson. They would finish the season 8-8.