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Complete Guide: Vikings Starting Quarterbacks Of All Time

Trends January 13, 2025

Who are the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterbacks? Here's a list of all the quarterbacks who have started for the Vikings since their inception in 1961:

Fran Tarkenton (1961-1966, 1971-1978)

Joe Kapp (1967-1969)

Gary Cuozzo (1970)

Tommy Kramer (1979-1989)

Wade Wilson (1990-1992)

Rich Gannon (1993-1994)

Warren Moon (1995-1996)

Brad Johnson (1997-1998)

Randall Cunningham (1999-2001)

Daunte Culpepper (2002-2005)

Brad Johnson (2006)

Tarvaris Jackson (2007-2010)

Brett Favre (2010-2011)

Christian Ponder (2011-2013)

Matt Cassel (2013-2014)

Teddy Bridgewater (2014-2016)

Sam Bradford (2016-2017)

Case Keenum (2017-2018)

Kirk Cousins (2018-present)

List of Vikings Starting Quarterbacks

The Minnesota Vikings have had a long and storied history, and their starting quarterbacks have played a major role in the team's success. Here are eight key aspects of the Vikings' starting quarterbacks:

Longevity: Fran Tarkenton holds the record for most seasons as the Vikings' starting quarterback, with 13.
Success: Tarkenton also led the Vikings to three Super Bowls, more than any other quarterback in team history.
Leadership: Daunte Culpepper was a dynamic leader who helped the Vikings reach the NFC Championship Game in 2000.
Accuracy: Kirk Cousins has been one of the most accurate passers in the NFL since joining the Vikings in 2018.
Mobility: Randall Cunningham was a mobile quarterback who could make plays with his legs as well as his arm.
Experience: Brett Favre was a veteran quarterback who brought a wealth of experience to the Vikings.
Potential: Teddy Bridgewater was a young quarterback with a lot of potential before he suffered a major knee injury.
Consistency: Case Keenum was a consistent performer who helped the Vikings reach the NFC Championship Game in 2017.

These are just a few of the key aspects of the Vikings' starting quarterbacks. The team has had a long line of successful quarterbacks, and they have played a major role in the team's success.

1. Longevity

Fran Tarkenton's longevity as the Vikings' starting quarterback is a testament to his skill, durability, and leadership. He was a key part of the Vikings' success in the 1960s and 1970s, leading the team to three Super Bowls. Tarkenton's longevity is also a reflection of the Vikings' stability at the quarterback position. The team has had a long line of successful quarterbacks, and Tarkenton's tenure is a major reason for that.

Consistency: Tarkenton was a consistent performer throughout his career. He was a Pro Bowler eight times and led the NFL in passing yards four times.
Durability: Tarkenton was a durable quarterback who rarely missed games. He played in 186 games for the Vikings, including 159 starts.
Leadership: Tarkenton was a leader on and off the field. He was a vocal leader in the locker room and a role model for his teammates.

Tarkenton's longevity is a major reason for the Vikings' success. He was a key part of the team's success in the 1960s and 1970s, and his legacy continues to this day.

2. Success

Fran Tarkenton's success as a quarterback is undeniable. He led the Vikings to three Super Bowls, more than any other quarterback in team history. His success is a major reason why he is considered one of the greatest Vikings players of all time.

Leadership: Tarkenton was a natural leader. He was able to motivate his teammates and get them to believe in themselves. He was also a master of the game plan and was able to make adjustments on the fly.
Accuracy: Tarkenton was one of the most accurate passers in the NFL during his era. He was able to put the ball where he wanted it, even under pressure.
Mobility: Tarkenton was also a mobile quarterback. He was able to scramble out of the pocket and make plays with his legs.
Clutch: Tarkenton was a clutch performer. He was able to make big plays in big games. He was also known for his ability to come from behind and win games.

Tarkenton's success is a major reason why the Vikings have been one of the most successful teams in the NFL. He is a true Vikings legend and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of players.

3. Leadership

Leadership is a key quality for any quarterback, and Daunte Culpepper was one of the best leaders in Vikings history. He was a vocal leader who was always willing to speak his mind, and he was also a great motivator. Culpepper was able to get his teammates to believe in themselves and in the team's goals.

Setting an Example: Culpepper was a hard worker who always put the team first. He was always one of the first players to arrive at practice and one of the last to leave. He also never hesitated to make big plays in big games.
Communicating Effectively: Culpepper was a great communicator who was able to clearly and concisely convey his thoughts to his teammates. He was also able to build strong relationships with his teammates, which helped to create a cohesive unit.
Inspiring Confidence: Culpepper was a confident leader who always believed in his team's ability to win. He was able to instill this confidence in his teammates, which helped them to overcome adversity and achieve success.
Leading by Example: Culpepper was a leader both on and off the field. He was a role model for his teammates and always represented the Vikings in a positive way.

Culpepper's leadership was a major factor in the Vikings' success during his tenure with the team. He helped to create a winning culture in Minnesota, and he will always be remembered as one of the best leaders in Vikings history.

4. Accuracy

Kirk Cousins' accuracy has been a major factor in the Vikings' success since he joined the team in 2018. He has consistently ranked among the most accurate passers in the NFL, completing over 70% of his passes in each of his first three seasons with the Vikings. His accuracy has allowed the Vikings to be more efficient on offense and has helped them to win more games.

There are several reasons why Cousins' accuracy is so important to the Vikings. First, it allows them to move the ball down the field more consistently. When Cousins is able to complete a high percentage of his passes, the Vikings are able to keep the chains moving and sustain drives. This gives them a better chance of scoring points and winning games.

Second, Cousins' accuracy helps the Vikings to avoid turnovers. When a quarterback is inaccurate, he is more likely to throw interceptions. Cousins' accuracy helps to minimize the number of turnovers the Vikings commit, which gives them a better chance of winning games.

Finally, Cousins' accuracy helps the Vikings to control the clock. When Cousins is able to complete a high percentage of his passes, the Vikings are able to keep the ball out of the hands of their opponents. This gives them a better chance of winning games by controlling the tempo of the game.

Overall, Kirk Cousins' accuracy has been a major factor in the Vikings' success since he joined the team in 2018. His accuracy has helped the Vikings to be more efficient on offense, avoid turnovers, and control the clock.

5. Mobility

Mobility is an important quality for a quarterback, as it allows them to extend plays and make plays with their legs as well as their arm. Randall Cunningham was one of the most mobile quarterbacks in NFL history, and his ability to make plays with his legs was a major factor in the Vikings' success during his tenure with the team.

One of the ways that Cunningham's mobility helped the Vikings was by allowing them to extend drives. When Cunningham was able to scramble out of the pocket and make a play with his legs, it would often keep the Vikings' offense on the field and give them a chance to score points. Cunningham was also a threat to run the ball himself, which made it difficult for defenses to stop the Vikings' offense.

In addition to extending drives, Cunningham's mobility also helped the Vikings to score points in other ways. Cunningham was a very good runner, and he was able to score several touchdowns on runs during his career. He was also a threat to pass the ball on the run, which made it difficult for defenses to defend against him.

Overall, Randall Cunningham's mobility was a major factor in the Vikings' success during his tenure with the team. His ability to make plays with his legs as well as his arm made him a very dangerous quarterback, and he was a key part of the Vikings' success during the 1990s.

6. Experience

Brett Favre's experience was a major asset to the Vikings during his tenure with the team. He had played in the NFL for 16 seasons before joining the Vikings, and he had a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with his teammates. Favre was a master of the game plan and was able to make adjustments on the fly. He was also a great leader and was able to motivate his teammates to play their best.

Leadership: Favre was a vocal leader who was always willing to speak his mind. He was also a great motivator and was able to get his teammates to believe in themselves and in the team's goals.
Knowledge of the Game: Favre had a deep understanding of the game of football. He was a master of the game plan and was able to make adjustments on the fly. He was also able to read defenses and make quick decisions.
Clutch Performances: Favre was a clutch performer who was able to make big plays in big games. He was also known for his ability to come from behind and win games.
Experience in Big Games: Favre had a lot of experience playing in big games. He had played in four NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl. This experience was invaluable to the Vikings, as it helped them to stay calm and focused in pressure situations.

Overall, Brett Favre's experience was a major factor in the Vikings' success during his tenure with the team. He was a leader, a master of the game, and a clutch performer. He helped the Vikings to win a lot of games and was a key part of the team's success.

7. Potential

Teddy Bridgewater was a highly touted quarterback prospect coming out of college. He was drafted by the Vikings in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, and he quickly became the team's starting quarterback. Bridgewater showed a lot of promise in his first two seasons, but he suffered a major knee injury in the preseason of 2016. The injury cost him the entire 2016 season, and it has had a significant impact on his career.

Bridgewater's Potential: Bridgewater was a very talented quarterback before his injury. He had a strong arm, good accuracy, and excellent mobility. He was also a very good leader and was well-respected by his teammates. Many experts believed that Bridgewater had the potential to be a franchise quarterback for the Vikings.
The Impact of Bridgewater's Injury: Bridgewater's knee injury was a major setback for his career. He missed the entire 2016 season, and he has not been the same player since he returned. Bridgewater has lost some of his mobility, and his arm strength and accuracy have also declined. He is still a capable quarterback, but he is no longer the same player that he was before his injury.
The Vikings' Quarterback Situation: Bridgewater's injury forced the Vikings to turn to other quarterbacks. Sam Bradford started the 2016 season, but he was injured in the first game. Case Keenum then took over as the starter, and he led the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game. Keenum is a solid quarterback, but he is not a long-term solution at the position. The Vikings are still looking for a franchise quarterback, and Bridgewater could still be that guy if he can return to his pre-injury form.

Teddy Bridgewater's potential is still unknown. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but he has also struggled since returning from his knee injury. The Vikings are hoping that Bridgewater can return to his pre-injury form, but there is no guarantee that he will. Bridgewater's potential is still there, but it is unclear if he will ever be able to reach it.

8. Consistency

Case Keenum's consistency was a major factor in the Vikings' success during his tenure with the team. He was a reliable quarterback who rarely made mistakes. Keenum was also able to make big plays when needed, and he was a leader on and off the field.

Reliability: Keenum was a very reliable quarterback. He was able to complete a high percentage of his passes and avoid turnovers. Keenum was also able to make big plays when needed, and he was a leader on and off the field.
Leadership: Keenum was a vocal leader who was always willing to speak his mind. He was also a great motivator and was able to get his teammates to believe in themselves and in the team's goals.
Clutch Performances: Keenum was a clutch performer who was able to make big plays in big games. He was also known for his ability to come from behind and win games.
Experience in Big Games: Keenum had a lot of experience playing in big games. He had played in two NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl. This experience was invaluable to the Vikings, as it helped them to stay calm and focused in pressure situations.

Overall, Case Keenum's consistency was a major factor in the Vikings' success during his tenure with the team. He was a reliable quarterback who rarely made mistakes, and he was also able to make big plays when needed. Keenum was a leader on and off the field, and he helped the Vikings to win a lot of games.

FAQs About List of Vikings Starting Quarterbacks

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about the list of Vikings starting quarterbacks.

Question 1: Who has been the most successful Vikings quarterback?

Fran Tarkenton is the most successful Vikings quarterback. He led the team to three Super Bowls and was named to the Pro Bowl eight times.

Question 2: Who is the Vikings' all-time leading passer?

Fran Tarkenton is also the Vikings' all-time leading passer. He threw for 31,209 yards during his career.

Question 3: Who was the Vikings' first starting quarterback?

Fran Tarkenton was also the Vikings' first starting quarterback. He started 159 games for the team.

Question 4: Who is the current Vikings starting quarterback?

Kirk Cousins is the current Vikings starting quarterback. He signed with the team in 2018.

Question 5: What is the Vikings' record with Kirk Cousins as starting quarterback?

The Vikings are 33-29-1 with Kirk Cousins as starting quarterback.

These are just a few of the frequently asked questions about the list of Vikings starting quarterbacks. For more information, please visit the Vikings official website.

Thank you for your interest in the Minnesota Vikings!

Conclusion

The Minnesota Vikings have had a long and storied history, and their starting quarterbacks have played a major role in the team's success. From Fran Tarkenton to Kirk Cousins, the Vikings have had a number of great quarterbacks who have led the team to success. These quarterbacks have all had their own unique strengths and weaknesses, but they have all shared a common goal: to win football games.

The Vikings are fortunate to have such a rich history at the quarterback position. The team's starting quarterbacks have played a major role in the team's success, and they will continue to be a key part of the team's future.