Fran Tarkenton
Questions about Fran Tarkenton or the Vikings?
Fran Tarkenton Legacy
HEYTC AIFran Tarkenton Rating Breakdown
Fran Tarkenton Career Stats via Wikipedia
Fran Tarkenton Career Timeline
HEYTC AI1986 1
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, celebrated for scrambling style and being ahead of his time.
1978 1
Retires from NFL
Retired after 18 seasons, having spent 13 years total with the Vikings (1961-1966, 1972-1978) and 5 years with the Giants (1967-1971).
1976 1
Super Bowl Appearance
Guided Vikings to Super Bowl XI; known as a Minnesota Vikings legend despite no Super Bowl win.
1975 1
Pro Bowl Selection
Earned Pro Bowl honors; repeated in multiple seasons including 1975 during Vikings tenure.
1974 1
Super Bowl Appearance
Led the Minnesota Vikings to Super Bowl VIII appearance as part of their four consecutive NFC Championship runs in the 1970s.
1973 1
NFL MVP Award
Won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award while leading the Vikings; recognized for scrambling ability and play extension.
1972 2
Traded Back to Vikings
Traded back to the Minnesota Vikings from the New York Giants after playing five years (1967-1971) with the Giants.
Signs with Giants After Holdout
Held out initially but returned and signed a contract with the Giants reportedly worth $125,000 salary plus $2,500 bonus per game won; however, this created tension with owner Wellington Mara over perceived disloyalty.
1971 1
Poor Performance Season
Struggled with the Giants, throwing 11 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions during the season.
1967 1
Traded to Giants
Traded from the Minnesota Vikings to the New York Giants after six seasons (1961-1966) with the Vikings.
1961 2
Signs First Vikings Contract
Returned a couple of days after the debut game and signed his initial contract with the Vikings.
Drafted by Vikings
Selected by the expansion Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 1961 NFL Draft under head coach Norm Van Brocklin. In the Vikings' first regular-season game, came off the bench to throw for four touchdowns and run for another, leading to a win over the Chicago Bears.
Career 2
3rd in NFL QB Touchdowns
Finished career with 342 passing touchdowns, ranking 3rd all-time among quarterbacks.
Vikings Passing Records
Remains Vikings' all-time leader in passing yards (33,098), touchdowns (239), and completions (2,635); threw 103 TD passes in 69 games with Giants.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fran Tarkenton
How does J.J. McCarthy compare to Fran Tarkenton?
J.J. McCarthy's got the keys to the Vikings' castle as the fresh-faced starter, but he's light-years from matching Fran Tarkenton's scramble-artist wizardry that piled up 47,003 yards and 342 TDs over 18 seasons. Fran dragged the '70s Vikes to three Super Bowls; JJ's gotta dodge blitzes like that just to sniff the playoffs. Legacy? Tarkenton's a Hall of Famer—McCarthy's still scribbling his first chapter.
Is Fran Tarkenton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Damn right Fran Tarkenton’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, busted in during 1986 after rewriting the record books with 47,003 passing yards and 342 touchdowns—stats that screamed all-time great back when QBs took real hits. The Scrambler belongs there with the immortals, no debate, even if those Purple Super Bowl heartbreaks linger like a bad hangover.
What is Fran Tarkenton doing now in 2026?
At 85, Tarkenton's still wheeling and dealing as CEO of his Atlanta tech outfit, launching AI tools like pipIQ for small businesses that can't drop Hall of Fame cash. He interviews every hire himself—500-plus a year—to keep the locker-room vibe tight, straight out of his QB playbook. Guy's started 24 companies; retirement? That's for quitters.
How would Fran Tarkenton perform in today's NFL?
Tarkenton's scrambler magic and quick-release arm would feast in today's pass-happy NFL, where rules baby the QB like a referee's whistle. His 47,003 yards and 342 TDs came sans no-slide protection—imagine him with modern pockets, RPOs, and analytics nerds calling audibles. He'd carve up defenses like he did the '70s Giants and Vikes, maybe snag that elusive ring.
Where does Fran Tarkenton rank all-time?
Fran Tarkenton sits at #24 on HeyTC's All-Time Greatest NFL Quarterbacks list with a slick 47.86 rating, right behind the gods but ahead of plenty who chased his passing records. The guy owned 47,003 yards and 342 TDs when he hung 'em up—Scrambler stats that aged like fine whiskey in today's metrics.
How does Fran Tarkenton compare to Tommy Kramer?
Tarkenton lapped Tommy Kramer like a Ferrari passing a pickup—Fran's 47.86 HeyTC rating towers over Kramer's 35.19, with 47,003 yards and 342 TDs to Tommy's scrappier but shorter Vikings ride. Both Purple heroes, but Fran was the franchise engine, dragging 'em to Super Bowls; Kramer was the reliable backup plan when the scrambler bolted for New York.