Welcome to the All-Time Favorite Viking Team series. We’re going through and voting by position for your favorite Viking players. There are no set criteria other than they played for the Minnesota Vikings. It’s your favorite player at that position.
Today we’re on the most important position in football. The QB position hasn’t always been a beacon of stability for the Vikings. They’ve had a lot of spurts of great play with a lot of messes in between.
Fran Tarkenton (1961-1966, 1972-1978)
47,003 Yards, 342 TDs, 266 INTs
Tarkenton was a 9x Pro Bowler, 1x First Team All-Pro, 1x Second Team All-Pro, 1x Offensive Player of the Year, 50 Greatest Vikings, Vikings Ring of Honor, 1x MVP, Hall of Famer and his #10 is retired by the Minnesota Vikings. He has had the greatest Viking career of anyone on this list. He was the original scrambling QB and could extend plays like no other.
Kirk Cousins (2018-2023)
42,979 Yards, 288 TDs, 126 INTs
Cousins is one of the most polarizing figures that had nothing to be polarizing about. He appears to be an excellent father and husband but maddening on the field for most. The ‘4th and 8’ play will always represent Kirk as a player to some (including me).
Daunte Culpepper (1999-2005)
24,153 Yards, 149 TDs, 106 INTs
Culpepper was another player whose career was changed by a knee injury. Brad Childress and he didn’t see eye to eye and Culpepper was traded to the Dolphins. Culpepper was voted to three Pro Bowls and his 2004 season was one of the best ever but was overshadowed by Peyton Manning.
Teddy Bridgewater (2014-2017)
15,120 Yards, 75 TDs, 47 INTs
Bridgewater’s knee imploded before the 2016 season. He didn’t light the world on fire when he started, but he was a fan favorite. He was on the rise when the injury changed everything. His lone Pro Bowl season was in 2015. That season ended with what should’ve been a game-winning playoff drive but was ruined.
JJ McCarthy (2024-present)
McCarthy missed his rookie season with a meniscus injury. It still wouldn’t surprise me if he won this poll. I am stoked to see him hit the field this fall.
Brett Favre (2009-2010)
71,838 Yards, 508 TDs, 336 INTs
The ole gunslinger was fun to watch, but I question you if he’s your selection. He was a Pro Bowler his lone season in Minnesota. Bounty Gate ended that magical run. The Vikings convinced him to come back for one more season, but it wasn’t nearly as fun. He was a 3x MVP with some team and is in the Hall of Fame.
Joe Kapp (1967-1969)
5,911 Yards, 40 TDs, 64 INTs
Kapp played three fantastic seasons for the Vikings, including one Pro Bowl and 2nd in MVP voting in 1969.
Tommy Kramer (1977-1989)
24,777 Yards, 159 TDs, 158 INTs
Kramer was the QB of the 80s for the Vikings. He was a 1x Pro Bowler and 1x Second Team All-Pro. He’s still signing autographs and hanging out with fans all around the Dakotas and Minnesota. He never lacked confidence and my favorite quote from him is “My arms are more powerful than your guns”.
Warren Moon (1994-1996)
49,325 Yards, 291 TDs, 233 INTs
Moon spent six seasons in the CFL before coming to the Houston Oilers in 1984. In his three seasons in Minnesota he was a 2x Pro Bowler.
Brad Johnson (1994-1998, 2005-2006)
29,054 Yards, 166 TDs, 122 INTs
Brad had an interesting career. He won the Super Bowl with the Bucs in 2002. Johnson was a 2x Pro Bowler in his career.
Randall Cunningham (1997-1999)
29,979 Yards, 207 TDs, 134 INTs
Cunningham’s best year was in 1998 when he was 2nd in MVP voting and was 1st team All-Pro. He came off the bench when Brad Johnson went down. He led the team to a 15-1 record and fell short against the Falcons in the NFCCG. In his career he was a 4x Pro Bowler, 2x Second Team All-Pro and NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
