Francis Asbury "Fran" Tarkenton (born February 3, 1940) is best known as an American football player.
Fran Tarkenton was born in Richmond, Virginia, and later attended the University of Georgia where he was the quarterback on the football team. The Minnesota Vikings drafted him in 1961. He came into his first NFL game (also the first game for the Vikings) against the Chicago Bears and led the Vikings to a victory.
Tarkenton played for the Vikings from 1961 to 1966, during this time he developed the nickname scrambler as he ran around the backfield to avoid being sacked by the opposition. Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants in 1967 and played there until 1972 when he was traded back to Minnesota. He played in three Super Bowls with the Vikings losing all three.
He retired after the 1978 season and held every career quarterback record in the National Football League at that time.
Fran Tarkenton later appeared on the television show That's Incredible! and also worked part time on Monday Night Football. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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