6 players the Vikings should have never let get away

Fran Tarkenton – QB

After six seasons with Fran Tarkenton as their starting quarterback, the Vikings decided to trade him away to the New York Giants in 1967. In exchange for Tarkenton, Minnesota received four early-round draft selections from the Giants.

The Vikings ended up using these draft picks to add some final touches to a team that went on to play in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1969.

So Minnesota certainly benefited from trading away Tarkenton. But did they miss out on winning a Super Bowl by not having him under center?

During Tarkenton’s first four seasons away from the Vikings, he was voted to the Pro Bowl each year. If Minnesota had him under center in 1969 instead of Joe Kapp, maybe the franchise is able to capture its first-ever Super Bowl victory.

The Vikings were eventually able to re-acquire Tarkenton, but they missed out on some of the most productive seasons of his career. Seasons that could have possibly resulted in Super Bowl wins for Minnesota.