5 best back-to-back seasons by a Vikings quarterback
By Tim Arcand
5. Brett Favre (2009 – 2010)
- Record: 17-12
- 6,711 passing yards
- 44 touchdown passes
- 92.2 passer rating
It should be no surprise that Brett Favre is a part of this ranking. A longtime nemesis to the Vikings, Favre spent 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and beat Minnesota 17 times in his career.
During his final year in Green Bay, Favre led the Packers to a 13-3 record. Things got ugly in the ensuing offseason as Favre retired, Green Bay moved on with Aaron Rodgers, Favre came out of retirement, and asked for his release. The Packers, not wanting to grant that release, traded him to the New York Jets.
Following a 9-7 record with the Jets in 2008, again, Favre announced his retirement. This time the New York released him from his contract and opened the door for the Vikings to sign him.
With several players along for the ride, including former Packers kicker Ryan Longwell, Minnesota brass flew down to Mississippi to lure Favre out of retirement for the second time.
He went on to spent two seasons with the Vikings and they were about as different as possible.
In 2009, Favre led Minnesota to a 12-4 record and a trip to the 2009 NFC Championship. He threw for 33 touchdowns, only seven interceptions, and he finished with a career-best passer rating of 107.2. His 4,202 passing yards rank as the fifth-most in a single season in Vikings history.
As good as 2009 was for him, 2010 was Favre’s worst season of his career. He finished with a 5-8 record as the starter with only 11 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in 13 games. His passer rating of 69.9 was the lowest in this career.
Combining Favre’s best year with his worst still placed him fifth among Vikings quarterbacks over a two-year span.