Ron Vander Kelen

#11 · Minnesota Vikings
Retired 5 Years In The NFL
🏆 Chicago Tribune Silver Football (1962)
Ron's
HAIR
8.0
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Ron Vander Kelen or the Vikings?

Ron Vander Kelen Legacy

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Ron Vander Kelen was the gunslinging Wisconsin quarterback who etched his name in college football immortality with a fourth-quarter Rose Bowl fireworks show for the ages—throwing for 401 yards in a furious #2 Badgers rally against #1 USC, breaking records that still whisper his name today. Named MVP of that historic clash and then topping Terry Baker to lead the '63 College All-Stars over Vince Lombardi's Packers, Vander Kelen was pure Badger bravado, backing up Fran Tarkenton with the Vikings before CFL stints. A Rose Bowl Hall of Famer whose flair outshone his pro ledger. He passed in 2016 at 76.
Ron Vander Kelen passed away on August 14, 2016 at the age of 76.

Ron Vander Kelen Rating Breakdown

Season
Subpar
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
Cooked
5 years with the Vikings

Ron Vander Kelen Career Stats via Wikipedia

1,375 Pass Yards
6 Touchdowns
11 INTs
0.0% Comp %
8.0 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Ron Vander Kelen

How does J.J. McCarthy compare to Ron Vander Kelen?

J.J. McCarthy, the fresh-faced Vikings starter, has a steeper hill than Vander Kelen's modest backup trail—1,375 yards, 6 TDs over five years backing up Tarkenton. Ron carved a niche with college flair from that '63 Rose Bowl stunner over USC, records still standing, but JJ's got modern weapons and a real shot to climb past #26 on the Vikings QB rankings.

Is Ron Vander Kelen in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nope, Ron Vander Kelen never made it to Canton—no bust waiting in the Hall for the Wisconsin gunslinger who lit up the '63 Rose Bowl. His Vikings stint was solid backup work, 1,375 yards and 6 TDs in 29 games, but not enough shine for the immortals. Think of him as the ultimate trivia answer, not a plaque guy.

How would Ron Vander Kelen perform in today's NFL?

Vander Kelen's cannon arm from that Rose Bowl epic would feast under today's pass-happy rules—no more 4-yard completion chains. His scrambling flair, like those Tarkenton-esque dashes versus the Bears, translates perfectly to RPOs and quick releases. Still, his 39% completion rate might get exposed by blitzes; he'd be a gritty backup, maybe a wildcat spark.

How does Ron Vander Kelen compare to Fran Tarkenton?

Vander Kelen's 8.03 passer rating over five Vikings seasons looks prehistoric next to Fran Tarkenton's 47.86—pure night and day for franchise QBs. Ron was the eager backup, scrambling for 53-yard bombs, while Fran scrambled into legend status. Both Purple People Eaters era, but Tark was the scrambler supreme; Ron, the understudy with Rose Bowl cred.