4 players that have had multiple stints with the Vikings

Fran Tarkenton – QB

“Scramblin'” Fran Tarkenton was taken by the Vikings as part of their expansion draft in the 1961 NFL draft, as well as the AFL draft by the then Boston Patriots. The Georgia Bulldog elected to sign with the Vikings, and he arguably pioneered the way for mobile quarterbacks of today’s NFL.

Tarkenton ended up being traded from the Vikings to the New York Giants, making four consecutive Pro Bowls during his time in the blue and red. His season-high touchdown passes of 29 also came during his time with the Giants.

But in 1972, Tarkenton was traded back to Minnesota and he started his second stint with the Vikings ready to move on from their growing pains from the past.

He led Minnesota to three Super Bowl appearances, but they ultimately lost all of them. Still, he went on to make two more Pro Bowls, serve as the NFL passing yards leader in 1978, and win the NFL MVP in 1975.

His jersey number is retired for a multitude of reasons, and he still arguably is the best quarterback in Vikings history. But he didn’t get there by staying in Minnesota for his entire career, and he eventually came back to have a second stint that served even greater than the first.