Tarkenton was drafted in the third round of the 1961 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He quickly became the starter and led the team to three consecutive division titles from 1968-1970. He was also named the NFL MVP in 1975.
Tarkenton was known for his ability to make plays outside of the pocket. He was also a great scrambler and was able to extend plays with his feet. He was also able to make plays with his arm, throwing for over 47,000 yards and 342 touchdowns during his career.
Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants in 1967 and led them to the playoffs in his first season. He was then traded back to the Vikings in 1972 and led them to the Super Bowl in 1973 and 1974. Unfortunately, the Vikings lost both of those games.
Tarkenton retired in 1978 after 17 seasons in the NFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and his number 10 was retired by the Vikings in 2002.
Tarkenton's career was one of the most successful in NFL history. He was a great leader and a great competitor. He was able to make plays with both his arm and his feet and was one of the most exciting players to watch. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
🏈