Francis Asbury Tarkenton (The Scrambler)
Position: QB
Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 lbs.
Throws: Right
Born: February 3, 1940 in Richmond, VA
College: Georgia (school history)
Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 3rd round (29th overall) of the 1961 NFL Draft.
Drafted by the Boston Patriots in the 5th round (34th overall) of the 1961 AFL Draft.
Weighted Career AV (100-95-...): 152 (7th overall since 1950)
9-time Pro Bowler & 1-time First-Team All-Pro (fine print)
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1986, finalist in 1984, 1985
Promote your website or business by sponsoring this page for $155 on Pro-Football-Reference.com. Your message will replace this ad.
| All-Time Rank: #44. Doug Atkins… #45. Chuck Bednarik… #46. Emlen Tunnell… #47. FRAN TARKENTON… #48. Jim Ringo… #49. Joe Schmidt… #50. Gary Zimmerman… |
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | QBrec | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | Lng | Sk | Yds | 4QC | GWD | AV | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 21 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 10 | 2-8-0 | 157 | 280 | 56.1 | 1997 | 18 | 6.4 | 17 | 6.1 | 71 | 7.1 | 5.7 | 12.7 | 142.6 | 74.7 | 11 | |||||||
| 1962 | 22 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 2-11-1 | 163 | 329 | 49.5 | 2595 | 22 | 6.7 | 25 | 7.6 | 89 | 7.9 | 5.8 | 15.9 | 185.4 | 66.9 | 11 | |||||||
| 1963 | 23 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 13 | 4-8-1 | 170 | 297 | 57.2 | 2311 | 15 | 5.1 | 15 | 5.1 | 67 | 7.8 | 6.5 | 13.6 | 165.1 | 78.0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | |||||
| 1964* | 24 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 8-5-1 | 171 | 306 | 55.9 | 2506 | 22 | 7.2 | 11 | 3.6 | 64 | 8.2 | 8.0 | 14.7 | 179.0 | 91.8 | 3 | 3 | 15 | |||||
| 1965* | 25 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7-7-0 | 171 | 329 | 52.0 | 2609 | 19 | 5.8 | 11 | 3.3 | 72 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 15.3 | 186.4 | 83.8 | 2 | 2 | 15 | |||||
| 1966 | 26 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 12 | 4-7-1 | 192 | 358 | 53.6 | 2561 | 17 | 4.7 | 16 | 4.5 | 68 | 7.2 | 6.1 | 13.3 | 182.9 | 73.8 | 2 | 1 | 12 | |||||
| 1967* | 27 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7-7-0 | 204 | 377 | 54.1 | 3088 | 29 | 7.7 | 19 | 5.0 | 70 | 8.2 | 7.5 | 15.1 | 220.6 | 85.9 | 2 | 2 | 20 | |||||
| 1968* | 28 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7-7-0 | 182 | 337 | 54.0 | 2555 | 21 | 6.2 | 12 | 3.6 | 84 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 14.0 | 182.5 | 84.6 | 1 | 2 | 16 | |||||
| 1969* | 29 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 6-8-0 | 220 | 409 | 53.8 | 2918 | 23 | 5.6 | 8 | 2.0 | 65 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 13.3 | 208.4 | 87.2 | 36 | 289 | 5.91 | 6.13 | 8.1 | 4 | 4 | 14 |
| 1970* | 30 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 9-5-0 | 219 | 389 | 56.3 | 2777 | 19 | 4.9 | 12 | 3.1 | 59 | 7.1 | 6.7 | 12.7 | 198.4 | 82.2 | 36 | 249 | 5.95 | 5.57 | 8.5 | 2 | 5 | 17 |
| 1971 | 31 | NYG | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 4-9-0 | 226 | 386 | 58.5 | 2567 | 11 | 2.8 | 21 | 5.4 | 81 | 6.7 | 4.8 | 11.4 | 197.5 | 65.4 | 27 | 232 | 5.65 | 3.90 | 6.5 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 1972 | 32 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7-7-0 | 215 | 378 | 56.9 | 2651 | 18 | 4.8 | 13 | 3.4 | 76 | 7.0 | 6.4 | 12.3 | 189.4 | 80.2 | 26 | 203 | 6.06 | 5.50 | 6.4 | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| 1973 | 33 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12-2-0 | 169 | 274 | 61.7 | 2113 | 15 | 5.5 | 7 | 2.6 | 54 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 12.5 | 150.9 | 93.2 | 31 | 270 | 6.04 | 5.99 | 10.2 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| 1974* | 34 | MIN | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 9-4-0 | 199 | 351 | 56.7 | 2598 | 17 | 4.8 | 12 | 3.4 | 80 | 7.4 | 6.8 | 13.1 | 199.8 | 82.1 | 17 | 142 | 6.67 | 6.13 | 4.6 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| 1975*+ | 35 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12-2-0 | 273 | 425 | 64.2 | 2994 | 25 | 5.9 | 13 | 3.1 | 46 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 11.0 | 213.9 | 91.8 | 27 | 245 | 6.08 | 5.89 | 6.0 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| 1976* | 36 | MIN | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10-2-1 | 255 | 412 | 61.9 | 2961 | 17 | 4.1 | 8 | 1.9 | 56 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 11.6 | 227.8 | 89.3 | 25 | 221 | 6.27 | 6.22 | 5.7 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| 1977 | 37 | MIN | QB | 10 | 9 | 9 | 6-3-0 | 155 | 258 | 60.1 | 1734 | 9 | 3.5 | 14 | 5.4 | 59 | 6.7 | 5.0 | 11.2 | 192.7 | 69.2 | 22 | 232 | 5.36 | 3.76 | 7.9 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 1978 | 38 | MIN | QB | 10 | 16 | 16 | 8-7-1 | 345 | 572 | 60.3 | 3468 | 25 | 4.4 | 32 | 5.6 | 58 | 6.1 | 4.4 | 10.1 | 216.8 | 68.9 | 27 | 254 | 5.37 | 3.80 | 4.5 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Career | 246 | 239 | 124-109-6 | 3686 | 6467 | 57.0 | 47003 | 342 | 5.3 | 266 | 4.1 | 89 | 7.3 | 6.5 | 12.8 | 191.1 | 80.4 | 274 | 2337 | 6.63 | 5.87 | 4.1 | 30 | 34 | 240 | ||||
| 13 yrs | MIN | 177 | 170 | 91-73-6 | 2635 | 4569 | 57.7 | 33098 | 239 | 5.2 | 194 | 4.2 | 89 | 7.2 | 6.4 | 12.6 | 187.0 | 80.1 | 175 | 1567 | 5.96 | 5.28 | 6.2 | 20 | 20 | 164 | |||
| 5 yrs | NYG | 69 | 69 | 33-36-0 | 1051 | 1898 | 55.4 | 13905 | 103 | 5.4 | 72 | 3.8 | 84 | 7.3 | 6.7 | 13.2 | 201.5 | 81.0 | 99 | 770 | 5.84 | 5.23 | 7.7 | 10 | 14 | 76 |
Playoff Record as Starting QB: 1973 (2-1), 1974 (2-1), 1975 (0-1), 1976 (2-1), 1978 (0-1)
Playoff Comebacks: 1973 (1)
Playoff Game-Winning Drives: 1973 (1)
Comeback and game-winning drive numbers are based on research by Scott Kacsmar, as described in parts I, II, and III on the blog.
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | QBrec | Att | Y/A+ | NY/A+ | AY/A+ | ANY/A+ | Cmp%+ | TD%+ | Int%+ | Sack%+ | Rate+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 21 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 10 | 2-8-0 | 280 | 93 | 99 | 114 | 108 | 101 | 106 | |||
| 1962 | 22 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 2-11-1 | 329 | 105 | 97 | 89 | 110 | 80 | 95 | |||
| 1963 | 23 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 13 | 4-8-1 | 297 | 106 | 104 | 119 | 97 | 104 | 107 | |||
| 1964* | 24 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 8-5-1 | 306 | 115 | 119 | 115 | 116 | 117 | 121 | |||
| 1965* | 25 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7-7-0 | 329 | 113 | 115 | 101 | 107 | 117 | 112 | |||
| 1966 | 26 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 12 | 4-7-1 | 358 | 102 | 104 | 108 | 98 | 108 | 105 | |||
| 1967* | 27 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7-7-0 | 377 | 120 | 119 | 109 | 126 | 104 | 119 | |||
| 1968* | 28 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7-7-0 | 337 | 111 | 119 | 109 | 113 | 117 | 118 | |||
| 1969* | 29 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 6-8-0 | 409 | 105 | 106 | 120 | 119 | 107 | 109 | 130 | 100 | 121 |
| 1970* | 30 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 9-5-0 | 389 | 106 | 107 | 115 | 114 | 115 | 104 | 119 | 97 | 117 |
| 1971 | 31 | NYG | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 4-9-0 | 386 | 99 | 102 | 96 | 98 | 122 | 86 | 100 | 107 | 101 |
| 1972 | 32 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7-7-0 | 378 | 106 | 109 | 114 | 116 | 116 | 105 | 119 | 108 | 117 |
| 1973 | 33 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12-2-0 | 274 | 121 | 110 | 130 | 122 | 130 | 112 | 128 | 90 | 132 |
| 1974* | 34 | MIN | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 9-4-0 | 351 | 114 | 122 | 118 | 123 | 114 | 106 | 118 | 121 | 118 |
| 1975*+ | 35 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12-2-0 | 425 | 107 | 111 | 116 | 118 | 133 | 116 | 120 | 114 | 125 |
| 1976* | 36 | MIN | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10-2-1 | 412 | 109 | 115 | 121 | 125 | 128 | 100 | 133 | 117 | 125 |
| 1977 | 37 | MIN | QB | 10 | 9 | 9 | 6-3-0 | 258 | 102 | 100 | 99 | 98 | 123 | 95 | 99 | 104 | 105 |
| 1978 | 38 | MIN | QB | 10 | 16 | 16 | 8-7-1 | 572 | 85 | 97 | 89 | 95 | 124 | 104 | 95 | 120 | 104 |
| Career | 246 | 239 | 124-109-6 | 6467 | 106 | 108 | 110 | 112 | 116 | 106 | 112 | 109 | 114 |
| Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | Att | Yds | TD | Lng | Rec | Yds | TD | Lng | YScm | RRTD | Fmb | ||||||
| 1961 | 21 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 10 | 56 | 308 | 5 | 52 | 5.5 | 22.0 | 4.0 | 308 | 5 | 8 | |||||||
| 1962 | 22 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 41 | 361 | 2 | 31 | 8.8 | 25.8 | 2.9 | 349 | 2 | 5 | |||||||
| 1963 | 23 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 13 | 28 | 162 | 1 | 24 | 5.8 | 11.6 | 2.0 | 162 | 1 | 7 | |||||||
| 1964* | 24 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 50 | 330 | 2 | 31 | 6.6 | 23.6 | 3.6 | 330 | 2 | 6 | |||||||
| 1965* | 25 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 56 | 356 | 1 | 36 | 6.4 | 25.4 | 4.0 | 356 | 1 | 5 | |||||||
| 1966 | 26 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 12 | 62 | 376 | 4 | 28 | 6.1 | 26.9 | 4.4 | 376 | 4 | 8 | |||||||
| 1967* | 27 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 44 | 306 | 2 | 22 | 7.0 | 21.9 | 3.1 | 306 | 2 | 4 | |||||||
| 1968* | 28 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 57 | 301 | 3 | 22 | 5.3 | 21.5 | 4.1 | 301 | 3 | 2 | |||||||
| 1969* | 29 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 37 | 172 | 0 | 21 | 4.6 | 12.3 | 2.6 | 172 | 0 | 7 | |||||||
| 1970* | 30 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 43 | 236 | 2 | 20 | 5.5 | 16.9 | 3.1 | 236 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
| 1971 | 31 | NYG | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 30 | 111 | 3 | 16 | 3.7 | 8.5 | 2.3 | 111 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
| 1972 | 32 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 27 | 180 | 0 | 21 | 6.7 | 12.9 | 1.9 | 180 | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| 1973 | 33 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 41 | 202 | 1 | 16 | 4.9 | 14.4 | 2.9 | 202 | 1 | 5 | |||||||
| 1974* | 34 | MIN | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 21 | 120 | 2 | 15 | 5.7 | 9.2 | 1.6 | 120 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| 1975*+ | 35 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 108 | 2 | 21 | 6.8 | 7.7 | 1.1 | 108 | 2 | 1 | |||||||
| 1976* | 36 | MIN | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 27 | 45 | 1 | 20 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 45 | 1 | 4 | |||||||
| 1977 | 37 | MIN | QB | 10 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 6 | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| 1978 | 38 | MIN | QB | 10 | 16 | 16 | 24 | -6 | 1 | 15 | -0.3 | -0.4 | 1.5 | -6 | 1 | 7 | |||||||
| Career | 246 | 239 | 675 | 3674 | 32 | 52 | 5.4 | 14.9 | 2.7 | 3662 | 32 | 84 | |||||||||||
| 13 yrs | MIN | 177 | 170 | 464 | 2548 | 22 | 52 | 5.5 | 14.4 | 2.6 | 2536 | 22 | 64 | ||||||||||
| 5 yrs | NYG | 69 | 69 | 211 | 1126 | 10 | 22 | 5.3 | 16.3 | 3.1 | 1126 | 10 | 20 | ||||||||||
| Def Interceptions | Fumbles | Tackles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | Sk | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | Fmb | FR | Yds | TD | Tkl | Ast | Sfty |
| 1961 | 21 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1962 | 22 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1963 | 23 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1964* | 24 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1965* | 25 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1966 | 26 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1967* | 27 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1968* | 28 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1969* | 29 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1970* | 30 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1971 | 31 | NYG | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 4 | -4 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1972 | 32 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1973 | 33 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1974* | 34 | MIN | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1975*+ | 35 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -3 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1976* | 36 | MIN | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 2 | -9 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1977 | 37 | MIN | QB | 10 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -14 | 0 | |||||||||
| 1978 | 38 | MIN | QB | 10 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 7 | -7 | 0 | |||||||||
| Career | 246 | 239 | 0 | 84 | 43 | -37 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 13 yrs | MIN | 177 | 170 | 0 | 64 | 34 | -33 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 5 yrs | NYG | 69 | 69 | 0 | 20 | 9 | -4 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | RshTD | RecTD | PR TD | KR TD | FblTD | IntTD | OthTD | AllTD | 2PM | XPM | FGM | Sfty | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 21 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 30 | ||||||||||
| 1962 | 22 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||||
| 1963 | 23 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1964* | 24 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||||
| 1965* | 25 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1966 | 26 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 24 | ||||||||||
| 1967* | 27 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||||
| 1968* | 28 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 18 | ||||||||||
| 1970* | 30 | NYG | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||||
| 1971 | 31 | NYG | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 18 | ||||||||||
| 1973 | 33 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1974* | 34 | MIN | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||||
| 1975*+ | 35 | MIN | QB | 10 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||||
| 1976* | 36 | MIN | QB | 10 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1978 | 38 | MIN | QB | 10 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Career | 246 | 239 | 32 | 32 | 192 | ||||||||||||||
| 13 yrs | MIN | 177 | 170 | 22 | 22 | 132 | |||||||||||||
| 5 yrs | NYG | 69 | 69 | 10 | 10 | 60 |
|
First-Team All-Pro
|
|||
|
Approximate Value (Weighted)
|
Passes Completed
|
Pass Attempts
|
Passing Yds
|
|
Passer Rating
|
|||
|
Passing Yds/Game
|
|||
|
Pass Attempts/Game
|
|||
|
Passes Completed/Game
|
Pass Completion %
|
||
|
Passing TD %
|
|||
|
Yds/Rushing Att
|
Games
|
||
|
Games Started
|
| Year | Team | Level | Voters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2nd Team | All-NFL | Pro Football Writers |
| 1972 | 1st Team | All-Conf. | Sporting News |
| 1972 | 1st Team | All-Conf. | UPI |
| 1973 | 2nd Team | All-Conf. | UPI |
| 1973 | 2nd Team | All-NFL | Associated Press |
| 1973 | 2nd Team | All-NFL | Pro Football Writers |
| 1973 | 1st Team | All-NFL | Newspaper Ent. Assoc. |
| 1974 | 2nd Team | All-Conf. | UPI |
| 1975 | 1st Team | All-Conf. | Associated Press |
| 1975 | 1st Team | All-Conf. | Pro Football Weekly |
| 1975 | 1st Team | All-Conf. | Sporting News |
| 1975 | 1st Team | All-Conf. | UPI |
| 1975 | 1st Team | All-NFL | Associated Press |
| 1975 | 1st Team | All-NFL | Pro Football Writers |
| 1975 | 1st Team | All-NFL | Newspaper Ent. Assoc. |
| 1975 | 1st Team | All-NFL | Pro Football Weekly |
| 1976 | 1st Team | All-Conf. | Pro Football Weekly |
| 1976 | 1st Team | All-Conf. | UPI |