Ultimate Vikings Mount Rushmore: Who deserves the honor?
By Adam Patrick
Fran Tarkenton – QB
Records and Accolades:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1986)
- NFL MVP (1975)
- Offensive Player of the Year (1975)
- Most career passing yards in Vikings history (33,098)
- Most career passing touchdowns in Vikings history (239)
- 6th-most career rushing yards by a QB in NFL history (3,674)
- 5-time Pro Bowl selection (with Minnesota)
- First-Team All-Pro selection (1975)
Like Randy Moss, Fran Tarkenton is a former Vikings player that changed how the entire sport of football was played during his time in the NFL.
Guys like Lamar Jackson, Michael Vick, and Randall Cunningham might have not been able to utilize their rushing skills as much while playing quarterback if not for Tarkenton paving the way first. Known as “The Scrambler” during his time in the NFL, the former Vikings signal-caller did whatever he could to make a play and get the ball down the field.
Let’s not gloss over his passing skills though. When Tarkenton was done playing in the NFL after the 1978 season, he left the game as the owner of multiple league passing records, including career passing yards and career passing touchdowns.