1968 Profile: Fran Tarkenton

Quarterback
No. 10
Georgia
"New York may be the biggest towaway zone in the nation, but last season Fran Tarkenton showed the natives how to beat the scene: never stay in one place too long. The scrambling quarterback was all over the field, as he throttled the Giants into one of the NFL's top attacking clubs.
When Fran wasn't scrambling for 306 yards, he was compiling the best passing yardage of his seven years in the league and climbing to third place among all NFL passers. He completed 204 throws out of 377 attempts for 3,088 yards - a 54.1 accuracy percentage. His 29 touchdown passes were second only to passing leader Sonny Jurgensen.
Francis, now 28, may be coming into his own in a town that really digs him. He was an All-American at Georgia and came into the league the same time the Minnesota Vikings did, as their No. 3 draft choice."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968

"'Every quarterback in the NFL has his own personality, his own style of play,' claims Fran Tarkenton. 'My style is wide open and daring. When I'm at my best I'll stay in the pocket sometimes. I'll roll out, bootleg, scramble. I want to keep the defense off balance,' he adds.
Tarkenton, who joined the New York Giants last year, certainly made things more interesting at Yankee Stadium as the New Yorkers bounced back from a pathetic 1-12-1 season in 1966 to break even in 14 games in 1967.
A flair for the spectacular has made Tarkenton one of the most controversial players in the game. The 28-year-old broke in with the newly- organized Minnesota Vikings as a rookie in 1961 and soon won headlines because of his proclivity to scramble whenever he didn't spot an open receiver. But friction began to develop between Tarkenton and Minnesota Coach Norm Van Brocklin. Matters came to a head late in the 1966 season when Fran was benched in a game against the Atlanta Falcons. His substitute had five passes intercepted and the Vikings lost. 'Can you imagine?' Tarkenton snapped. 'The Dutchman (Van Brocklin) gave up on us and there were three games to go in the season.'
The Vikings ended the 1966 season with a 4-9-1 record, finishing in a tie with Detroit for cellar honors in the Western Conference. Van Brocklin resigned and Tarkenton was traded to the Giants where he responded by completing 204 of 377 passes for 3,088 yards and 29 touchdowns. In addition, Fran carried the ball 44 times- usually on scrambles- gaining 306 yards or seven yards per try. Among his best performances was the afternoon he led the Giants to a 38-34 upset against Cleveland, passing for three touchdowns and scoring a fourth. In the season's opener, against St. Louis, he pitched three touchdowns as the Giants won, 37-20.
The University of Georgia graduate feels he's just beginning to hit his stride, although this year marks his eighth season in the NFL. Says Fran: 'Quarterbacks are just like fine wine. They get better with age.'"

-1968 True's Football Yearbook

"After six great years with Minnesota, Fran was obtained by the Giants. To land this quarterback, New York gave the Vikings three top draft picks and a player."

-1968 Topps No. 161