Fran Tarkenton

Francis Asbury Tarkenton, an American professional football quarterback nicknamed "the Scrambler," was born on February 3, 1940. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he was twice recognized as a first-team All-SEC selection, and was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 1961 NFL draft. He went on to play 18 seasons in the National Football League, primarily with the Vikings, and is widely regarded as the first great dual-threat quarterback in the NFL.

Tarkenton's tenure with Minnesota spanned thirteen non-consecutive seasons. He played for the Vikings for six seasons from 1961 to 1966, after which he was traded to the New York Giants for five seasons. He was then traded back to Minnesota, where he finished his career with seven more seasons from 1972 to 1978. At the time of his retirement, Tarkenton was the all-time NFL career leader in numerous records, including career passing touchdowns, passing yards, and completions.

After retiring from football in 1979, he became a media personality, serving as a commentator, and a computer software executive. Tarkenton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.