Let’s Debate! The Best Quarterbacks in Minnesota Vikings History
By: Ross Blilie
3–27–2023
I’m just going to state the obvious right from the beginning. So far, I’ve ranked the running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, and offensive linemen. Now, it’s time to rank the quarterbacks. Today’s conversation starter is about quarterbacks for the Minnesota Vikings. As you know, in the last fifty seasons, the Vikings have had a lot of field generals come and go: some good, some great, and some not so good.
So, what makes the quarterback position so special? Is it his mobility? Is it his ability to look downfield and look for the big play? Is it the way he has command in the huddle and poise in the pocket? What about his career stats? These are all questions that I am going to attempt to answer as I rank the ten best quarterbacks in Vikings franchise history.
First things first, let’s try to name as many QB’s in Vikings history as we can. Right off the top of my head I can name Kirk Cousins, Fran Tarkenton, Tommy Kramer, Joe Kapp, Gus Frerotte, Brett Favre, Daunte Culpepper, Randall Cunningham, Warren Moon, Joe Webb, Tavaris Jackson, Brad Johnson, Teddy Bridgewater, Archie Manning, and Donovan McNabb. A Google search reminds me that Christian Ponder, Rich Gannon, Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, Wade Wilson, Spergon Wynn, Jim McMahon, Matt Cassel, Shaun Hill, Josh Freeman, Sage Rosenfels, John David Booty, and a bunch of older guys that were not household names, all played for the Vikings at some point in the last fifty seasons.
So how do I rank these guys? I think it should be based on stats as well as overall ability to do multiple things on the field.
1. Fran Tarkenton- 1960’s and 70’s. Tarkenton, in my mind should be ranked number one in Vikings franchise history because he not only led the team to four Super Bowl appearances, but he was really, the first quarterback to scramble from the pocket to make a big play. You all know he played for eighteen seasons for the Vikings, but his stats proved that he was worthy of going to the Super Bowl. It’s just too bad that he has to be remembered for losing all four Super Bowls. There are so many reasons why Tarkenton should be ranked number one, I just don’t have the time to go through all of them.
2. Randall Cunningham-late 1990’s- Early 2000’s. I put Randall Cunningham here because he was resurrecting his career with the Vikings. He played his best football in 1999. Yes, he had help from Randy Moss and Cris Carter, but his mobility from the pocket as well as his ability to make big plays downfield warrants him this spot. Yes, he lost in the 1999 NFC Championship, but that wasn’t his fault.
3. Joe Kapp-late 1960’s. I put Joe Kapp in this spot because he was the first QB to lead the team to the first Super Bowl appearance in 1969 against the Chiefs. He also led the team to a 12–2 regular season record. Kapp led the team to win the last NFL Championship game before it was renamed the NFC Divisional Conference Championship in 1970. He is considered one of the fifty greatest players in Vikings history.
4. Tommy Kramer-AKA “2-minute Tommy”. I put Kramer in this spot because he became the all-time leader in comeback wins in franchise history with nineteen. He also is known for “The Miracle at the Met” along with Ahmad Rashad. Although his stats weren’t the best in his eleven seasons, he made up for it with his comeback wins.
5. Toss Up between Daunte Culpepper and Brett Favre-Early 2000’s and Mid-2000’s. I feel like this particular spot is a tough one because I think both players, even though they didn’t play very long with the Vikings, both made meaningful impacts. Culpepper had big play ability and could make the big play if it was needed. It helped that he had Randy Moss at the time, but his downfall was all the interceptions he threw as well as injuries from running so much. His best season was in 2004 when he broke Dan Marino’s passing and rushing records combined in a single season. My reasoning for putting Favre in the same spot as Culpepper is because he was last great quarterback to lead the team to the NFC Championship in 2009 and had a legit chance to win it and get back to the Super Bowl. Case Keenum in 2017 was just a back-up QB that got lucky. Then when he went to Philly and got blown out, it didn’t end well for him.
6. Brad Johnson-Mid 1990’s –Mid-2000’s
7. Wade Wilson-1980’s
8. Rich Gannon-late 1980’s –Early 1990’s
9. Kirk Cousins-late 2010’s –Mid 2020’s
10. Teddy Bridgewater-Mid 2010’s
In summary, I’ve chosen to rank the players 6 through 10 based on the number of games they won when they played. I thought it was important to put Cousins on the list because he is the modern day QB. I think his stats still reflect that he is a decent quarterback, but his mobility and big play ability is a question mark. What do you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Ross Blilie is an avid NFL fan of the Minnesota Vikings since the 1990’s. He loves to talk about the NFL and the Vikings every chance he gets. His hobbies also include bowling with his wife and friends, narrating audiobooks, fishing, and even sitting by a campfire with family at Lake Blackduck in Minnesota. You can find Ross on twitter & Instagram @Rossthenarrator.
