New York Giants great Fran Tarkenton named one of NFL's best to never win a Super Bowl
Dan Marino, Barry Sanders, Bruce Smith, Jim Kelly, Randy Moss, and Anthony Munoz are just a few of the names who have never hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
Most of the great New York Giants who played in the Super Bowl era have had the pleasure of earning s Super Bowl ring. One, however, has not. Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton, who played five seasons for the Giants from 1967 through 1971, was recently listed by CBS Sports as one of their top 30 players to never win the big game.
12 - Fran Tarkenton
The NFL's career passing leader until Marino passed him in 1995, Tarkenton played in three Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame career. Super Bowl IX was the only one that was still competitive in the fourth quarter. The Steelers ultimately won, 16-6, behind the running of Franco Harris and a defense that held Tarkenton and the rest of the Vikings' offense to 121 total yards.
As quarterback of Bud Grant's powerhouse Minnesota Vikings teams of the 1970s, Tarkenton got the Purple Gang to the Super Bowl three times, only to be squashed in 1974 and 1975 by juggernauts Miami and Pittsburgh and then mauled by John Madden's Oakland Raiders in 1978.
Tarkenton had a solid stint with the Giants, first under Allie Sherman and then Alex Webster. He was traded to Big Blue in 1967 and then returned to Minnesota after five seasons. Tarkenton compiled a 33-36 record with the Giants and was named to the Pro Bowl in four of his five years in the Bronx.
Tarkenton was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
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