Steve Dils

J.J. McCarthy, the fresh-faced Vikings starter, has a long way to go before touching Steve Dils's turf—Dils went 12-9 as a starter in Minnesota, backing up legends while slinging 5,816 yards and 27 TDs over a decade. McCarthy's got arm talent for today's bombs away era, but Dils was the steady hand in purple fog, clutch like that '81 Redskins upset.

Nope, Steve Dils isn't in the Pro Football Hall of Fame—no bronze bust in Canton for the Stanford slinger who filled in admirably for the Vikings and Falcons. His 56.1 career passer rating and journeyman vibe kept him out of the immortals club, though Vikings fans still nod at his grit.

In 2026, Steve Dils is thriving as managing director of Avison Young’s Atlanta office, wheeling and dealing in commercial real estate after off-season gigs turned into a powerhouse career. He's chairing Kennesaw State's real estate committee, dropping $150k on athletics with wife Char to boost their football climb into Conference USA.

Dils's quick release and smarts would feast in today's NFL—pass-happy rules, no more bruising defenders like in the '80s. His 63% college completion at Stanford translates to a solid backup or bridge guy, reading coverages like a vet, though his arm wasn't cannon-hot for 50-air yards moonshots.

Fran Tarkenton lapped Steve Dils under center—Fran's gaudy 47.86 Vikings rating and scrambling magic vs. Dils's workmanlike 7.93 in purple, where he started most of '83 with Darrin Nelson pounding. Tark was the scrambler extraordinaire; Dils the reliable fill-in, like a setup man to Fran's closer.