25 best NFL players of all time from the SEC
By John Buhler
Fran Tarkenton was a pioneer at quarterbacking in both the SEC and in the NFL. He scrambling ability to extend plays made him a legend for his hometown Georgia Bulldogs and in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants.
Widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks to never win a Super Bowl, Tarkenton is easily the best signal caller in Vikings history. In an 18-year NFL career, 13 with the Vikings, Tarkenton was a nine-time Pro Bowl and the NFL MVP in 1975 at age 35.
Tarkenton completed 57.0 percent of his passes for 47,003 yards, 342 touchdowns and 266 interceptions. Using his legs, Tarkenton scrambled for an additional 3,674 yards and 32 rushing touchdowns. He became the prototype for dual-threat playmakers at the quarterback position.
Tarkenton was insanely creative as a quarterback and thrived in winning time. He had 30 career fourth-quarter comebacks and 34 game-winning drives in his illustrious. Tarkenton did it all, but win a Super Bowl in his storied NFL career with the Vikings and the Giants.