List of Minnesota Vikings starting quarterbacks

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Kirk Cousins was the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback from 2018 to 2024. Kirk Cousins (cropped).jpg
Kirk Cousins was the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback from 2018 to 2024.

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). A franchise was granted to Minneapolis businessmen Bill Boyer, H. P. Skoglund and Max Winter in 1959 as a member of the American Football League (AFL). The ownership forfeited their AFL membership in January 1960 and received the National Football League's 14th franchise on January 28, 1960 that started play in 1961. [1]

Contents

The Vikings have had 39 starting quarterbacks in the history of their franchise; they had never had more than three starting quarterbacks in one season until 2023. [a] The Vikings' past starting quarterbacks include Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Fran Tarkenton, Brett Favre and Warren Moon. [2] The team's first starting quarterback was George Shaw; he was replaced by Tarkenton in the franchise's first game, and the future Hall of Famer retained the starting role for most of the remainder of the season. Kirk Cousins was Minnesota's most recent starting quarterback, from 2018, until being signed by the Atlanta Falcons in 2024.

History

The Vikings' starting quarterback for the first game of their inaugural season against the Chicago Bears was George Shaw. [3] However, he was replaced by Fran Tarkenton early on, who passed for four touchdowns in the game and rushed for one more. Tarkenton went on to start in 10 of the Vikings' 14 regular season matches that year. [4] He played for the Vikings until 1967, when he was traded to the New York Giants, [5] and Joe Kapp took his place as the Vikings' starting quarterback . [6] Kapp led the Vikings to their first playoff appearance in 1968, [7] but he was traded to the Boston Patriots in 1970 and Gary Cuozzo stepped up to replace him. [6] [8] Cuozzo remained in the position for two seasons, moving to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972. [8]

Tarkenton returned for another seven-year spell as the Vikings' starting quarterback in 1972, continuing until his retirement in 1978, [5] at which point Tommy Kramer was promoted from the second string in his second season with the franchise. [9] Kramer was injured for most of the 1983 season, so Steve Dils served as the starting quarterback for most of the season, [10] before Kramer reclaimed the position in 1984. [9] For the 1987 season, Kramer shared quarterback duties with Wade Wilson, before Wilson took over on a permanent basis from 1988. [11] Wilson was replaced by the emerging Rich Gannon in 1990, [12] but Gannon was released after the 1992 season and veteran Jim McMahon took over for the 1993 season until the arrival of Warren Moon in 1994. [13]

Moon retained the starting quarterback spot for two seasons, [14] but suffered a broken collarbone halfway through his third season with the Vikings and was replaced by Brad Johnson for the remainder of the season. [15] The Vikings had three starting quarterbacks in the following three seasons – Johnson (1997), [15] Randall Cunningham (1998) [16] and Jeff George (1999) [17]  – before Daunte Culpepper began a six-year spell in his second year in the NFL in 2000. [18] He suffered a serious knee injury during the 2005 season, and Johnson took over in the position again, having re-signed the previous summer after seven years away from the franchise. [15] Culpepper then joined the Miami Dolphins in 2006, [18] giving Johnson another full year as starting quarterback, [15] only to be replaced by sophomore Tarvaris Jackson in 2007. [19] The 2008 season commenced with Jackson starting at quarterback, [19] but he was replaced after two games by Gus Frerotte, who was returning to the Vikings from the St. Louis Rams after having been traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2005. [20] Jackson regained the job for the final three games and led the Vikings to their first divisional title since 2000, and their first NFC North title. [19]

In 2009, the Vikings recruited veteran quarterback Brett Favre out of retirement to be their new starting quarterback. [21] In Week 13 of the 2010 season, Favre suffered a chest injury that ended his NFL-record streak of consecutive starts at 297 (321 including postseason games), and Tarvaris Jackson reclaimed the starting spot for Week 14. However, Jackson was injured himself in Week 15, giving rookie Joe Webb a chance to stake a claim for the position. He was unable to hold onto the position as Donovan McNabb was signed as a free agent to replace Favre, who retired at the end of the 2010 season. After going 1–5 through the first six games of 2011, though, McNabb was replaced by first-round draft pick Christian Ponder, who retained the starting position for the remainder of the season and for the whole of 2012. However, he was plagued by indifferent form and the Vikings signed Matt Cassel – recently released by the Kansas City Chiefs. When Ponder suffered an injury early in the 2013 season, Cassel was given his first start for the Vikings in week 4 in the NFL International Series game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Wembley Stadium, London. He started the following game, but was replaced in week 7 by Josh Freeman, recently signed after his release by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, he was injured during the game and did not make another start for the Vikings, allowing Ponder to reclaim the starting role. Cassel then returned as the starter in week 14, and retained the role for the rest of the season and into 2014. After three games, he was placed on injured reserve and first-round draft pick Teddy Bridgewater took over for the week 4 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Bridgewater himself was injured late in the game, allowing Ponder the chance to come back in for the following week, but the rookie soon returned and has held the starting berth until suffering a knee injury in practice during the 2016 preseason. Shaun Hill started the season opener and Sam Bradford took over in week 2. Ahead of the 2018 season, the Vikings signed free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Washington Redskins on a three-year, fully guaranteed $84 million contract. He started 31 consecutive regular season games to start his Vikings career before sitting out the final game of 2019 with the team's playoff berth already secured; Sean Mannion started in his place.

Seven Vikings quarterbacks have made at least one start in their rookie season: Tarkenton in 1961, Vander Kelen in 1963, Kramer in 1977, Jackson in 2006, Webb in 2010, Ponder in 2011 and Bridgewater in 2014.

Starting quarterbacks by season

Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Warren Moon was the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback from 1994 to 1996. Halo3LaunchInSeattle WarrenMoon.jpg
Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Warren Moon was the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback from 1994 to 1996.
Daunte Culpepper was the Vikings' starting quarterback for six seasons from 2000 to 2005. Daunte Culpepper cropped.JPG
Daunte Culpepper was the Vikings' starting quarterback for six seasons from 2000 to 2005.
Jim McMahon was the Vikings' starting quarterback for the 1993 season. Mcmahon.1993.jpg
Jim McMahon was the Vikings' starting quarterback for the 1993 season.
Brett Favre took over as the Vikings' starting quarterback in 2009. BFAVREVIKE.jpg
Brett Favre took over as the Vikings' starting quarterback in 2009.
Teddy Bridgewater was the Vikings' starting quarterback from Week 4 of the 2014 season until the end of the 2015 season. He tore his ACL on August 30, 2016, and was declared out for the rest of the 2016 season. Teddy Bridgewater 2017.jpg
Teddy Bridgewater was the Vikings' starting quarterback from Week 4 of the 2014 season until the end of the 2015 season. He tore his ACL on August 30, 2016, and was declared out for the rest of the 2016 season.
Sam Bradford was the Vikings' starting quarterback during the 2016 season until Week 2 of the 2017 season. Sam Bradford behind center 2016 vs. Redskins.jpg
Sam Bradford was the Vikings' starting quarterback during the 2016 season until Week 2 of the 2017 season.
Case Keenum started all but two of the Vikings' games in 2017. Case keenum vikings2017.jpg
Case Keenum started all but two of the Vikings' games in 2017.
YearColumn links to corresponding team season
(#)Number of games started in the regular season or post-season win–loss record
†Inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame [2]

Regular season

SeasonQuarterback(s)Ref(s).
1961 Fran Tarkenton †(10) / George Shaw (4) [3] [4] [5]
1962 Fran Tarkenton †(14) [22]
1963 Fran Tarkenton †(13) / Ron Vander Kelen (1) [23] [24]
1964 Fran Tarkenton †(14) [25]
1965 Fran Tarkenton †(14) [26]
1966 Fran Tarkenton †(12) / Bob Berry (1) / Ron Vander Kelen (1) [27] [28]
1967 Joe Kapp (11) / Ron Vander Kelen (3) [6] [29]
1968 Joe Kapp (14) [7]
1969 Joe Kapp (13) / Gary Cuozzo (1) [8] [30]
1970 Gary Cuozzo (12) / Bob Lee (2) [31] [32]
1971 Gary Cuozzo (8) / Bob Lee (4) / Norm Snead (2) [33] [34]
1972 Fran Tarkenton †(14) [35]
1973 Fran Tarkenton †(14) [36]
1974 Fran Tarkenton †(13) / Bob Berry (1) [37]
1975 Fran Tarkenton †(14) [38]
1976 Fran Tarkenton †(13) / Bob Lee (1) [39]
1977 Fran Tarkenton †(9) / Bob Lee (4) / Tommy Kramer (1) [9] [40]
1978 [b] Fran Tarkenton †(16) [41]
1979 Tommy Kramer (16) [42]
1980 Tommy Kramer (15) / Steve Dils (1) [10] [43]
1981 Tommy Kramer (14) / Steve Dils (2) [44]
1982 [c] Tommy Kramer (9) [45]
1983 Steve Dils (12) / Tommy Kramer (3) / Wade Wilson (1) [11] [46]
1984 Tommy Kramer (9) / Wade Wilson (5) / Archie Manning (2) [47] [48]
1985 Tommy Kramer (15) / Wade Wilson (1) [49]
1986 Tommy Kramer (13) / Wade Wilson (3) [50]
1987 [c] Wade Wilson (7) / Tommy Kramer (5) / Tony Adams (3) [51] [52]
1988 Wade Wilson (10) / Tommy Kramer (6) [53]
1989 Wade Wilson (12) / Tommy Kramer (4) [54]
1990 Rich Gannon (12) / Wade Wilson (4) [12] [55]
1991 Rich Gannon (11) / Wade Wilson (5) [56]
1992 Rich Gannon (12) / Sean Salisbury (4) [57] [58]
1993 Jim McMahon (12) / Sean Salisbury (4) [13] [59]
1994 Warren Moon †(15) / Sean Salisbury (1) [14] [60]
1995 Warren Moon †(16) [61]
1996 Warren Moon †(8) / Brad Johnson (8) [15] [62]
1997 Brad Johnson (13) / Randall Cunningham (3) [16] [63]
1998 Randall Cunningham (14) / Brad Johnson (2) [64]
1999 Jeff George (10) / Randall Cunningham (6) [17] [65]
2000 Daunte Culpepper (16) [18] [66]
2001 Daunte Culpepper (11) / Todd Bouman (3) / Spergon Wynn (2) [67] [68] [69]
2002 Daunte Culpepper (16) [70]
2003 Daunte Culpepper (14) / Gus Frerotte (2) [20] [71]
2004 Daunte Culpepper (16) [72]
2005 Brad Johnson (9) / Daunte Culpepper (7) [73]
2006 Brad Johnson (14) / Tarvaris Jackson (2) [19] [74]
2007 Tarvaris Jackson (12) / Kelly Holcomb (3) / Brooks Bollinger (1) [75] [76] [77]
2008 Gus Frerotte (11) / Tarvaris Jackson (5) [78]
2009 Brett Favre †(16) [21] [79]
2010 Brett Favre †(13) / Tarvaris Jackson (1) / Joe Webb (2) [80] [81]
2011 Christian Ponder (10) / Donovan McNabb (6) [82] [83] [84]
2012 Christian Ponder (16) [85]
2013 Christian Ponder (9) / Matt Cassel (6) / Josh Freeman (1) [86] [87] [88]
2014 Teddy Bridgewater (12) / Matt Cassel (3) / Christian Ponder (1) [84] [87] [89]
2015 Teddy Bridgewater (16) [89]
2016 Sam Bradford (15) / Shaun Hill (1) [90] [91]
2017 Case Keenum (14) / Sam Bradford (2) [90] [92]
2018 Kirk Cousins (16) [93]
2019 Kirk Cousins (15) / Sean Mannion (1) [93] [94]
2020 Kirk Cousins (16) [93]
2021 Kirk Cousins (16) / Sean Mannion (1) [93] [94]
2022 Kirk Cousins (17) [93]
2023 Kirk Cousins (8) / Joshua Dobbs (4) / Nick Mullens (3) / Jaren Hall (2) [93] [95] [96] [97]

Postseason

SeasonQuarterback(s)Ref(s).
1968 Joe Kapp (0–1) [6]
1969 Joe Kapp (2–1) [6]
1970 Gary Cuozzo (0–1) [8]
1971 Bob Lee (0–1) [32]
1973 Fran Tarkenton (2–1) [5]
1974 Fran Tarkenton (2–1) [5]
1975 Fran Tarkenton (0–1) [5]
1976 Fran Tarkenton (2–1) [5]
1977 Bob Lee (1–1) [32]
1978 Fran Tarkenton (0–1) [5]
1980 Tommy Kramer (0–1) [9]
1982 Tommy Kramer (1–1) [9]
1987 Tommy Kramer (1–0) / Wade Wilson (1–1) [9] [11]
1988 Wade Wilson (1–1) [11]
1989 Wade Wilson (0–1) [11]
1992 Sean Salisbury (0–1) [58]
1993 Jim McMahon (0–1) [13]
1994 Warren Moon (0–1) [14]
1996 Brad Johnson (0–1) [15]
1997 Randall Cunningham (1–1) [16]
1998 Randall Cunningham (1–1) [16]
1999 Jeff George (1–1) [17]
2000 Daunte Culpepper (1–1) [18]
2004 Daunte Culpepper (1–1) [18]
2008 Tarvaris Jackson (0–1) [19]
2009 Brett Favre (1–1) [21]
2012 Joe Webb (0–1) [81]
2015 Teddy Bridgewater (0–1) [89]
2017 Case Keenum (1–1) [92]
2019 Kirk Cousins (1–1) [93]
2022 Kirk Cousins (0−1) [93]

Statistics

Having been the franchise's starting quarterback for 13 seasons (longer than any other Vikings player), Fran Tarkenton holds the record for the most starts in a Vikings jersey, and those for the most wins and ties. [98] He is also the franchise's leading passer in terms of numbers of attempts, completions, total yards gained and passing touchdowns, although Brett Favre has the best pass completion percentage. [98] However, Tarkenton has also thrown the most interceptions. [98] The record for the longest completed pass by a Vikings starting quarterback is held by Gus Frerotte, who threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bernard Berrian in a home game against the Chicago Bears in the 2008 season. [98] [99]

Tarkenton is also the franchise leader for rushing attempts and rushing yards as a quarterback, but it is Daunte Culpepper – with 72 fewer rushing yards on 10 fewer attempts than Tarkenton – who has the most rushing touchdowns. [100] Joe Webb holds the record for the longest rush with a 65-yard run in Minnesota's 34–28 road loss to the Detroit Lions in 2011. [100] [101]

YearsYears that the quarterback was on the Vikings' rosterYdsYards gained by passing
GPGames played (regular season)TDPassing touchdowns
GSGames started (regular season)IntInterceptions thrown
WNumber of wins as starting quarterbackLngLongest completed pass thrown (yards)
LNumber of losses as starting quarterbackRateQuarterback rating
TNumber of ties as starting quarterbackAttRushes attempted
CmpPasses completedYdsYards gained by rushing
AttPasses attemptedTDRushing touchdowns
Cmp%Percentage of passes completedLngLongest rushing attempt
NameYearsPassing statisticsRushing statisticsRef.
GPGSWLTCmpAttCmp%YdsTDIntLngRateAttYdsTDLng
George Shaw 196184130469150.5530444264.81039019 [3]
Fran Tarkenton 1961–1966
1972–1978		177170917362,6354,56957.733,0982391948980.14642,5482252 [5]
Ron Vander Kelen 1963–196729514010725242.51,3756115350.026116120 [24]
Bob Berry 1965–1967
1973–1975		2421106312450.8708785260.172508 [28]
Joe Kapp 1967–196940382312335169950.24,80737478562.299540527 [6]
Gary Cuozzo 1968–19713321165027655649.63,55218237263.63685015 [8]
Bob Lee 1969–1972
1975–1978		521192015930652.02,15315176367.93937210 [32]
Norm Snead 197172200377549.3470165540.46615 [34]
Tommy Kramer 1977–1989128110545602,0113,64855.124,7751591577672.9214531820 [9]
Steve Dils 1979–1984471569033662353.93,86715186868.92473019 [10]
Wade Wilson 1981–19917648272109291,66555.812,13566757573.4159679938 [11]
Archie Manning 1983–198482020529455.3545235666.11241016 [48]
Tony Adams 198733030498955.1607356364.21131012 [52]
Rich Gannon 1987–19924835191605611,00355.96,45740367873.9144720342 [12]
Sean Salisbury 1992–199422954022840456.42,7721495580.024106 [58]
Jim McMahon 1993121284020033160.41,968985876.23396016 [13]
Warren Moon 1994–19963939211808821,45460.710,10258428582.869143016 [14]
Brad Johnson 1994–1998
2005–2006		6846281801,0361,67062.011,09865488282.5139368228 [15]
Randall Cunningham 1997–19992723167042771359.95,68048236794.261317128 [16]
Jeff George 1999121082019132958.12,81623128094.21641017 [17]
Daunte Culpepper 1999–20058180384201,6782,60764.420,162135868291.54542,4762942 [18]
Todd Bouman 2001–200263120549556.8880848098.61070021 [68]
Spergon Wynn 200132020489849.0418164738.6861014 [69]
Gus Frerotte 2003–2004
2008		4313103021636758.92,84719179981.431515 [20]
Tarvaris Jackson 2006–201036201010035460358.73,98424227176.6119535433 [19]
Kelly Holcomb 200733030428350.6515214073.10000 [76]
Brooks Bollinger 2006–200771010466867.6537125084.0518010 [77]
Brett Favre 2009–201029291712058088965.26,71144266392.22615010 [21]
Joe Webb 2010–20131721108815257.9853354666.641273465 [81]
Donovan McNabb 2011661509415660.31,026426082.91459123 [83]
Christian Ponder 2011–20143836142116321,05759.86,65838367275.9126639729 [84]
Matt Cassel 2013–201412945019432559.72,23214137978.12775113 [87]
Josh Freeman 201311010205337.7190012240.60000 [88]
Teddy Bridgewater 2014–201730281711055185164.76,15028228786.394398419 [89]
Shaun Hill 201671100214250.0257003369.211–209 [91]
Sam Bradford 2016–2017171798042759571.84,25923571101.12250024 [90]
Case Keenum 20171514113032548167.63,5472276598.340160122 [92]
Kirk Cousins 2018–20238888503712,0933,08167.923,2651715575101.2181579629 [93]
Sean Mannion 2019
2021		42020345759.6315123566.089011 [94]
Jaren Hall 202332110132065.0168014770.461408 [95]
Joshua Dobbs 2023542209515162.9895552976.430163322 [96]
Nick Mullens 2023–present9303012117369.91,530894791.0143306 [97]
* Statistics accurate as of the end of the 2023 season.
Bold text indicates the player is currently on the Vikings roster

Notes

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References

General

Specific

  1. ↑ "Vikings – Team History". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Hall of Famers". vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. Archived from the original on October 4, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
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  4. 1 2 "1961 Minnesota Vikings Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Fran Tarkenton". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Joe Kapp". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  7. 1 2 "1968 Minnesota Vikings Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Gary Cuozzo". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Tommy Kramer". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 "Steve Dils". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Wade Wilson". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on November 22, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  12. 1 2 3 "Rich Gannon". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Jim McMahon". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Warren Moon". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Brad Johnson". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Randall Cunningham". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Jeff George". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Daunte Culpepper". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Tarvaris Jackson". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
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  21. 1 2 3 4 "Brett Favre". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
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  24. 1 2 "Ron Vander Kelen". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
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  28. 1 2 "Bob Berry". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
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  30. ↑ "1969 Minnesota Vikings Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
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  32. 1 2 3 4 "Bob Lee". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
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  34. 1 2 "Norm Snead". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
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