When we as NFL fans talk about the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, a lot of names come to mind. Some of these names include Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, John Elway, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers, to name a few. However, one name that should get more talk when it comes to the all-time great quarterbacks is Vikings legend Fran Tarkenton, otherwise known as Scramblin’ Fran during his career.
Drafted by the Vikings during the 1961 expansion draft, Tarkenton showcased what he was capable of during the franchise’s first-ever game, coming off the bench to throw for 250 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to running for a score. Tarkenton’s performance made him the only quarterback to throw for four touchdowns in his first game until Marcus Mariota accomplished the feat in 2015.
Tarkenton had two stints with the Vikings, with his first one lasting from 1961 to 1966. In terms of winning, let’s just say he wasn’t great at it. The Vikings struggled in their first few years of existence and won only ten games, eight of which were won by Tarkenton himself. In his first six seasons, Tarkenton averaged 2,429 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions per season. However, his unique scrambling abilities enabled him to average 315 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns per season.
In 1967, the Vikings traded Tarkenton to the New York Giants, where he spent five seasons, none of which saw him make the playoffs. During his Giants stint, he continued to put up solid numbers for his era. Through the air, he averaged 2,781 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions per season. On the ground, he averaged 225 rushing yards and two rushing scores per season.
However, the lack of success Tarkenton had with the Giants led the team to trade him back to the Vikings in 1972. It was during his second stint with the purple and gold (1972-78) where Tarkenton really showcased his ability to become an all-time great. Over his final six seasons, he averaged 2,645 passing yards per season, 18 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions per season. On the ground, his numbers took a step back, as he only managed 93 rushing yards and one rushing score per season.
However, Tarkenton found new postseason success during his second Vikings stint that he previously lacked at that point in his career, furthering his case when it came to the all-time great conversations. The Vikings trading Tarkenton to the Giants actually enabled them to form the foundation of the team that would get to Super Bowl IV, coming up short. Tarkenton’s return to the Vikings saw them make three additional Super Bowls (VIII, IX, and XI), though they ultimately came up short in each one.
During his second Vikings stint, Tarkenton won his lone NFL MVP award, which came in 1975. Completing 64.2 percent of his throws, Tarkenton threw for 2,994 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions for a passer rating of 91.8. He also ran for 108 yards and two scores. Tarkenton also made two All-Pro teams, being named a First-Team selection in 1975 and a Second-Team selection in 1973.
Tarkenton’s final NFL season came in 1978. Although his 32 interceptions thrown led the league, he also led the league with 3,468 passing yards, only the second season of his career he threw for over 3,000 yards. When he retired, Tarkenton retired as the NFL’s all-time leading passer, having completed 3,686 of 6,467 pass attempts for 47,003 yards, 342 touchdowns, and 266 interceptions, all of which were league records. He also set a still-standing league record by rushing for a touchdown in 15 different seasons, and his 124 regular season wins were also an NFL record at the time (though he is now tenth on that list). Tarkenton is also one of just four quarterbacks to rush for 300 yards in a season seven times.
Despite not winning a Super Bowl, Scramblin’ Fran needs to be talked about more when it comes to the all-time great quarterbacks. Not only did he achieve incredible passing stats during his run-heavy era, but he also played a key position in reinventing the position. Tarkenton was the league’s first true scrambling quarterback, and paved the way for players such as Randall Cunningham, Steve Young, and Cam Newton to dominate the league.
Unfortunately, Tarkenton’s greatness coincided with bad timing. Early in his career, he was overshadowed by Bart Starr and the Packers’ dynasty. In his prime, he was overshadowed by the successes of Roger Staubach and Terry Bradshaw. Then, Dan Marino came in and set the standard for the modern day quarterback play that we see today, which enabled guys such as Montana, Elway, Brady, and Peyton Manning to become all-time greats in their own ways. However, we can’t forget that Tarkenton truly reinvented how the quarterback position is played, and for that reason, I believe Fran Tarkenton is a top-ten quarterback of all-time. He’s closer to nine or ten, but he’s still top ten in my eyes.
Is Fran Tarkenton a top ten quarterback of all time? Where do you rank him among the league’s greatest quarterbacks? Comment your thoughts below.
