Had it not been for five prime years with the New York Giants, Fran Tarkenton could easily have been number one on this list. Hell, we are not convinced that he won’t get there eventually after more analysis. His time in Minnesota defined both the player and the franchise’s rise in the 1970s.

Tarkenton was drafted by the expansion Vikings in the third round in 1961 out of Georgia and quickly became their starting quarterback. He spent his first six seasons in purple, showing the dual threat of accuracy and scrambling that set him apart from most passers of the era. The team struggled early, and tensions with coach Norm Van Brocklin led to a trade to the Giants in 1967.

He returned to Minnesota in 1972 via another major trade, and the second stint proved far more successful. Tarkenton’s ability to extend plays with his legs while still delivering accurate throws made him ahead of his time. While the Vikings were known for the Purple People Eaters defense, his offense gave the team the balance needed for sustained success.

From 1973 to 1976, he led Minnesota to three NFC Championships and Super Bowl appearances. The peak came in 1975, when he was named the consensus MVP after completing 273 of 425 passes for 2,994 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions with a 91.8 rating. He started all 14 games as the Vikings finished 12-2, and he also earned first-team All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year honors that season. The numbers reflected both volume and efficiency during the team’s strongest regular-season stretch of the decade.

Tarkenton never won that elusive Super Bowl, but he did everything he could to get the Vikings there often. He appeared in three Super Bowls during his second run in Minnesota and started nearly every game once he returned. His scrambling kept defenses off balance even as the team’s defense carried much of the load.

He continued to play at a high level into the late 1970s, including a 1978 season in which he led the NFL in passing yards. Age and wear eventually caught up, and Tarkenton retired after the 1978 campaign. He left Minnesota as the clear face of the offense during the franchise’s most competitive stretch of that era.

With the Vikings, he finished with 33,098 passing yards, 239 touchdowns, and 194 interceptions across 177 games. He also rushed for more than 1,800 yards during his time in Minnesota and completed 57.7 percent of his passes. He accumulated most of the major quarterback records he held at retirement as a Viking. Tarkenton entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986, and the Vikings retired his number 10 in 1979, right after his retirement. He was also among the first group of players inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor in 1998. His production, Super Bowl runs, and lasting impact left little doubt about his place among the franchise’s greatest players.