| Rank | Name | Team | Years | Season | Fantasy | Playoffs | Rating | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fran Tarkenton | Vikings | 13 | Good | Good | Good | 47.86 | Sigma |
| 2 | Tommy Kramer | Vikings | 13 | Average | Average | Average | 35.19 | Chill |
| 3 | Daunte Culpepper | Vikings | 7 | Great | Average | Average | 33.83 | Chill |
| 4 | Kirk Cousins | Vikings | 6 | Good | Great | Subpar | 33.10 | Chill |
| 5 | Brad Johnson | Vikings | 7 | Good | Good | Subpar | 31.75 | Delulu |
| 6 | Randall Cunningham | Vikings | 3 | Good | Good | Average | 30.99 | Delulu |
| 7 | Wade Wilson | Vikings | 10 | Average | Subpar | Average | 30.97 | Delulu |
| 8 | Sam Darnold | Vikings | 1 | Great | Great | Subpar | 30.29 | Delulu |
| 9 | Brett Favre | Vikings | 2 | Good | Good | Average | 29.64 | Delulu |
| 10 | Case Keenum | Vikings | 1 | Good | Good | Average | 28.97 | Delulu |
| 11 | Jeff George | Vikings | 1 | Good | Good | Average | 28.94 | Delulu |
| 12 | Joe Kapp | Vikings | 3 | Average | Subpar | Average | 28.92 | Delulu |
| 13 | Warren Moon | Vikings | 3 | Good | Good | Subpar | 28.85 | Delulu |
| 14 | Gary Cuozzo | Vikings | 4 | Great | Subpar | Subpar | 28.19 | Delulu |
| 15 | Teddy Bridgewater | Vikings | 3 | Good | Average | Subpar | 27.44 | Delulu |
| 16 | Tarvaris Jackson | Vikings | 2 | Average | Average | Average | 26.74 | Delulu |
| 17 | Christan Ponder | Vikings | 4 | Average | Subpar | Subpar | 26.10 | Delulu |
| 18 | Jim McMahon | Vikings | 1 | Average | Good | Subpar | 26.08 | Delulu |
| 19 | Sean Salisbury | Vikings | 3 | Average | Average | Subpar | 26.04 | Delulu |
| 20 | Bob Lee | Vikings | 8 | Good | Average | Subpar | 24.69 | Delulu |
| 21 | Carson Wentz | Vikings | 1 | Average | Subpar | Subpar | 23.93 | Delulu |
| 22 | Sam Bradford | Vikings | 2 | Average | Great | Non-Factor | 20.44 | Delulu |
| 23 | Matt Cassel | Vikings | 2 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 17.70 | NPC |
| 24 | Rich Gannon | Vikings | 6 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 17.67 | NPC |
| 25 | J.J. McCarthy (INJ) | Vikings | 2 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 16.62 | NPC |
| 26 | Donovan McNabb | Vikings | 1 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 16.50 | NPC |
| 27 | George Shaw | Vikings | 1 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 16.46 | NPC |
| 28 | Archie Manning | Vikings | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 13.60 | NPC |
| 29 | Tony Adams | Vikings | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 13.38 | NPC |
| 30 | Gus Frerotte | Vikings | 3 | Good | Average | Non-Factor | 12.05 | NPC |
| 31 | Joshua Dobbs | Vikings | 1 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 10.80 | NPC |
| 32 | Todd Bouman | Vikings | 2 | Good | Subpar | Non-Factor | 10.61 | NPC |
| 33 | Nick Mullens | Vikings | 2 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 9.38 | NPC |
| 34 | Norm Snead | Vikings | 1 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.37 | NPC |
| 35 | Joe Webb | Vikings | 4 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.52 | Cooked |
| 36 | Kelly Holcomb | Vikings | 1 | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | 8.45 | Cooked |
| 37 | Ron Vander Kelen | Vikings | 5 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.03 | Cooked |
| 38 | Steve Dils | Vikings | 6 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.93 | Cooked |
| 39 | Bob Berry | Vikings | 6 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.78 | Cooked |
| 40 | Jaren Hall | Vikings | 1 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 7.20 | Cooked |
| 41 | Sean Mannion | Vikings | 2 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.56 | Cooked |
| 42 | Spergon Wynn | Vikings | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.54 | Cooked |
| 43 | Josh Freeman | Vikings | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.67 | Cooked |
| 44 | Shaun Hill | Vikings | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.17 | Cooked |
All-Time Vikings QB Rankings
FAQ
Who is the greatest Minnesota Vikings quarterback of all time?
Fran Tarkenton holds the top spot with a rating of 50.7, driven by his “Good” regular-season performance, “Elite” fantasy impact, and “Good” playoff showings across 13 seasons, earning them “Sigma” status as the franchise’s iconic figure.
How does Fran Tarkenton compare to the greatest quarterback of all time?
Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL. His highest rating is with the New England Patriots—a fitting 133.7—and overall is even higher because of his Super Bowl win with Tampa Bay. Fran Tarkenton’s 50.7 with the Vikings, while providing good regular-season consistency, elite fantasy impact, and good playoff performances across 13 seasons including three Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s, doesn’t match Brady’s sustained excellence across eras—his overall rating with both Tampa and New England totals 148.5.
For a full comparison, check out the All-Time QB Rankings here.
What is the difference between HeyTC’s QB Rating and ESPN’s QBR?
QBR is an outdated model that doesn’t take into account whether the quarterback won the game—its first flaw. Winning is everything; who cares if Quarterback X has the highest QBR but doesn’t win games? Its second flaw is that it doesn’t factor in playoff and Super Bowl success.
By contrast, the HeyTC QB Rating is a composite score evaluating a quarterback’s tenure with his team, factoring in regular-season performance, fantasy football value, playoff success, and overall franchise legacy.
Is J.J. McCarthy one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL?
While J.J. McCarthy is decent, he’s not Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, who is still the best quarterback in the NFL. For the complete NFL daily quarterback rankings, check out our list that include some surprises.
What do the “Season,” “Fantasy,” and “Playoffs” columns mean?
These columns use qualitative tiers to assess regular-season excellence (e.g., Good for standout play), fantasy (e.g., “Elite” for top scorers), and postseason performance (e.g., “Great” for significant playoff runs)—forming the foundation of the overall ranking.
How do Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks compare to other teams?
To see how Minnesota Vikings’s all-time QB lineup stacks up league-wide—and get our bold prediction on when this team will win its next Super Bowl—check out the All-Time Team QB Rankings here.
What do the slang terms in the “Overall” column mean (like “Aura,” “Sigma,” or “NPC”)?
These terms, inspired by our “Dad Glossary,” add a playful, informal spin to describe quarterback impact:
- Aura/Elite: Legendary, game-changing dominance.
- Sigma/Great: Consistently elite performers.
- Slaps/Good: Solid, reliable contributors.
- Chill/Average: Dependable but unremarkable.
- Delulu/Mediocre: Overhyped with underwhelming results.
- NPC/Subpar: Forgettable and inconsistent.
- Cooked/Non-Factor: Complete busts.
How often is this list updated?
The list is updated throughout the year, with major revisions during the NFL postseason and after the Super Bowl to reflect evolving careers of quarterbacks.