5 oldest quarterbacks to ever start a game for the Minnesota Vikings

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) Brad Johnson
(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) Brad Johnson /
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Minnesota Vikings
(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) Fran Tarkenton /

Fran Tarkenton (1978)

Age:

  • 38 years and 317 days

Stats in 1978:

  • 8-7-1 record
  • 60.3 percent completion rate
  • 3,468 passing yards
  • 25 touchdowns
  • 32 interceptions

After he was selected by the Vikings in the third round of the 1961 NFL Draft, Fran Tarkenton went on to have a career that has resulted in him being known by the majority as the greatest quarterback in franchise history.

During his 13 years with Minnesota, Tarkenton was voted to five Pro Bowls, he was named the league MVP and selected as a First-Team All-Pro in 1975, and he helped lead the Vikings to three of their four appearances in the Super Bowl.

In 1978, however, the Hall of Fame quarterback’s old age began to take over, and it led to him having one of the worst single-season performances of his career.

Minnesota was still able to win the division and make the playoffs, but Tarkenton realized at the end of the 1978 campaign that it was time for him to hang up his cleats for good.