Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Quarterbacks
1. Fran Tarkenton (1961-66, 1972-78)
2. Daunte Culpepper (1999-2005)
3. Kirk Cousins (2018-23)
4. Tommy Kramer (1977-89)
5. Joe Kapp (1967-69)
6. Warren Moon (1994-96)
7. Wade Wilson (1981-91)
8. Brad Johnson (1994-98, 2005-06)
9. Randall Cunningham (1997-99)
10. Brett Favre (2009-10)
#1 is easy. Fran Tarkenton has a bust in Canton. He guided to the Vikings to three Super Bowls. He retired with every career passing record. He held those records longer than any quarterback in league history. The only thing missing from Tarkenton’s brilliant career was a Super Bowl win(s).
In Daunte Culpepper, it looked like the Vikings had finally found their first long-term franchise quarterback since Tarkenton. He was terrific for most of his seven years in Minnesota. He was named to three Pro Bowls and had an MVP-caliber season in 2004. Then it was suddenly over in 2005 with a knee injury. That would be his final season in Minnesota. Culpepper was never the same quarterback after the injury.
Kirk Cousins was signed as a free agent the offseason after the Vikings made it to the NFC Championship game. He was signed to a giant QB deal to take the team that final step. He put up excellent numbers but guided the Vikings to two playoff appearances and a single playoff win in his six years with the team. When he’s on, Cousins is one of the best passers in the league.
Tommy Kramer was the first quarterback the Vikings ever drafted in the first round. He was selected to be the heir to Fran Tarkenton. A fun and talented gunslinger, Kramer sure looked the part. Like Culpepper, Kramer’s career with the Vikings is one of what might’ve been. One big injury wrecked Culpepper’s career. Injuries peppered Kramer’s career.
Joe Kapp is a personal favorite. He quarterbacked Cal to their last Rose Bowl appearance in 1958 and then quarterbacked the Vikings to their first Super Bowl in 1969. He was also Cal’s head coach during my college days in Berkeley. There was nothing pretty about the way Kapp played quarterback. He played the position like one might play linebacker. He was a leader and a winner.
Warren Moon throwing to Cris Carter was a beautiful thing. The 1990s, with Dennis Green as head coach, was a revolving door at quarterback. A young Rich Gannon, an old Jim McMahon, an older Moon. It was a little frustrating. The Vikings were competitive. They routinely made the playoffs and were eliminated after a single game. Being competitive was fun but the lack of consistency at the quarterback position wasn’t. At least the Moon years were fun to watch.
Wade Wilson often took the field when Kramer couldn’t. Wilson played well when given extended opportunities.
Brad Johnson was the starting quarterback in 1998 until an injury opened the door for Randall Cunningham. One has to wonder what Johnson’s Vikings career might’ve been if that injury hadn’t taken him off the field. As it was, his career was that of a reliable starter for a handful of seasons over two stints with the Vikings.
Even though they each had only one outstanding season with the Vikings, I had to include Randall Cunningham and Brett Favre for those two incredible seasons. In 1998, Cunningham replaced an injured Brad Johnson and went to lead the highest-scoring offense in league history. All-Pro, Pro Bowl, second in the MVP voting, Cunningham was a blast that season. In 2009, Favre guided the Vikings to one of the most fun seasons in all my years as a fan. If not for the officiating fiasco that was the 2009 NFC Championship game, the Vikings likely take care of the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. For those two season, Cunningham and Favre make this Top 10.
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