NFL, Pro Football HoF

Tarkenton, Fran ‘The Scrambler’

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #13
Topps 1970, #80

CARDS: Upper Deck Legends 1997, Topps 1970
ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, C/o Home
SENT: 9/23/20 RECEIVED: 10/31/20 (38 days)*
* Fee enclosed

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Fran Tarkenton played college ball at Georgia from 1958-’60.
  • At QB over 3 years he completed 186 of 317 passes for 2100 yards and 18 TDs to 20 INT.
  • In 1961 was a 3rd round pick of the then expansion Minnesota Vikings.
  • Came off the bench in his first game and threw for 4 TDs and rushed for another in a comeback win.
  • Rushed for a career high 5 TDs his rookie year.
  • His 89 yard completion in 1962 led the NFL.
  • Displayed his gift for running out of the pocket early on- becoming one of the first modern hybrid scrambling QBs.
  • In ’64 passed for 2506 yards and 22 TDs to 11 INT as Tarkenton led the Vikings to an 8-5-1 record.
  • Traded to Giants in 1967.
  • Threw for a career high 3,088 yards and 29 TDs that year.
  • Traded back to the Vikings in 1972.
  • During the 70s, alongside the Purple People Eaters, led the Vikings to two 12-2 records, and a 10-2-1 record enroute to the 3 Super Bowl appearances,
  • Led NFL in Attempts in 1975, ’76, ’78, completions in ’75 and ’78 and completion percentage in 1977.
  • Finished out on top in 1978 with 3468 yards passing and retired after the season- his 18th in the NFL
  • At the time of his retirement, owned many of the NFL career passing records.
  • Moved into business, public speaking, commentating, acting, wrote self help books, and an annuity market firm.

ACCOLADES:

  • Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame
  • All Pro 1975
  • NFL MVP 1975
  • NFL Offensive Player of the Year 1875
  • Pro Bowl 1964-’65, 1967-’70, 1974-’76
  • Minnesota Vikings 25th Anniversary Team
  • Minnesota Vikings 40th Anniversary Team
  • 50 Greatest Vikings
  • Vikings #10 Jersey Retired
  • Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor

NOTES:

Fran Tarkenton with Cathy Lee Crosby on ‘That’s Incredible’ alongside Hopper the Frog

Fran Tarkenton was a very comfortable voice during my childhood, in which I wasn’t really familiar with him from football post retirement but from his stint as a host on the show ‘That’s Incredible’. It only lasted one season in the 80’s but the format, some of the segments, the hosts and the theme music stuck with me over the years.

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