The tenure in New York lasted only five seasons (1967-71), but it was the most underrated period of his career.  Named to the Pro Bowl in the first four seasons of his Giants run, Tarkenton was in the top four in Passing Yards in all of his New York years, and in the top five in Touchdown Passes and Passer Rating in the first four.  The Quarterback also cracked the top ten in Approximate Value in those first four years, and was the league-leader in 1967, the only time in his career that he would achieve that feat.  

The Giants looked to rebuild, and he was traded back to the Vikings, who now had a dominant defense and offensive pieces that Tarkenton could work with.  

Tarkenton’s 1.08 Approximate per Game is the highest in Giants history, and this can’t be ignored on a list like this.  The Giants may not have made the playoffs while Tarkenton was there, but he made them competitive, which only a handful of QBs could have done.  With the Giants, he threw for 13,905 Yards, 103 Touchdowns, and rushed for ten more. Tarkenton entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.