Fran Tarkenton: A Living Legend
ATLANTA — The elevator chimed as it reached the 17th floor, and the doors slid open to reveal a bright office space. Fluorescent white lights illuminated the area, while the summer sun streamed in, casting a warm glow on the gray walls. A spacious lobby led to a narrow hallway, and at the end of it stood a slightly ajar door. A voice from within called out, “Come on in!”
Inside, Fran Tarkenton sat slouched in his chair, his glasses perched at the tip of his nose, and an iPad resting in his hands. Upon noticing my arrival, he set the tablet aside, removed his black-framed glasses, and gestured toward the chair across from him. “Sit down!” he urged enthusiastically. “What are you waiting for?”
Behind him hung a wall adorned with numerous framed photographs: Tarkenton alongside the legendary Minnesota Vikings head coach Bud Grant, sharing smiles with the Coca-Cola board of directors, and standing next to former President George W. Bush. He seemed oblivious to the accolades, instead running his hand through his wispy white hair and flashing a broad smile.
Tarkenton appeared to relish the moment, eager to share stories and insights about his life. At 84 years old, and 63 years since his NFL debut, he still drives to this office in Buckhead nearly every day. His enthusiasm for conversation was palpable as he effortlessly wove in tales of business moguls like Warren Buffett and Steve Jobs, NFL stars such as Patrick Mahomes and Kirk Cousins, and revered football coaches like Nick Saban and George Halas. It was a seamless flow of anecdotes that seemed to invigorate him.
His conversation was punctuated with laughter, animated gestures, and exclamations. He even contemplated attending the upcoming Vikings-New York Giants game, an event celebrating the latter team’s 100-year anniversary. It was a fitting invitation for Tarkenton, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who had made four Pro Bowls with the Giants and spent significant time with the Vikings, the franchise that witnessed him break nearly every significant passing record at the time of his retirement.
“I’m not going,” he declared suddenly. Why not? “I don’t need to do that,” he retorted, contorting his face and waving his hand dismissively like a beauty queen on a parade float. “I don’t have any interest,” he added matter-of-factly. Instead, his passion lay within the work he cherished.
As he scribbled his signature on a purple No. 10 jersey, Tarkenton handed the silver-inked Sharpie to an employee without missing a beat in our conversation, as if he had merely placed a bookmark in a riveting novel. Our dialogue turned to his signature playing style: scrambling. It was a defining characteristic of his career. Search for Tarkenton highlights online, and you’ll discover grainy footage of the 6-foot, 190-pound quarterback deftly maneuvering in the pocket, spinning to avoid defenders, dashing to his left, sprinting to his right, and evoking the image of a father engaging in a game of keep-away with his children.
Tarkenton earned the monikers “The Scrambler” and “Scramblin’ Fran,” in a manner reminiscent of today’s Patrick Mahomes. Much like Mahomes, who has an uncanny ability to escape defenders and launch passes downfield, Tarkenton’s games were must-watch events, filled with the potential for a thrilling spectacle at any moment.
How do you think your scrambling would fare in today’s game? I inquired. “I would be more successful today,” he asserted confidently. Why do you believe that? “Because the field is spread out more,” he explained. “I watch Patrick Mahomes. Patrick Mahomes doesn’t do anything I didn’t do. Nothing.” You mean— “Nothing,” he interrupted once more. “I was just the first one who did it … with a fullback and two halfbacks!”
Necessity, as the saying goes, is the mother of invention. Tarkenton’s childhood was marked by a need to evade being tackled in a small alley behind his family’s Washington D.C. apartment. Growing up, he played with his brothers, employing evasive maneuvers to dodge them in the streets. After relocating to Athens, Georgia, Tarkenton faced new challenges as a high school quarterback. A painful shoulder injury threatened to sideline him, but he refused to give in.
Instead, he ran. Once he secured the starting position at the University of Georgia and later as a third-round pick for the Vikings, his scrambling prowess became essential for avoiding the onslaught of defensive linemen. In 1966, he famously scrambled for nearly 14 seconds, drifting left, then backward, right, and back left again, culminating in a tipped pass that was caught in the end zone—an iconic moment now celebrated as one of the greatest 100 plays in NFL history.
Retiring in 1978, Tarkenton held the records for the most rushing attempts (675) and rushing yards (3,674) by a quarterback in NFL history. The game has evolved significantly since then, with four quarterbacks surpassing Tarkenton’s entire career rushing statistics in just the last decade. “I don’t think you can play quarterback today without being mobile,” he noted. “Kirk Cousins has played really well the last four years, and he’s not mobile. And I get on his ass about it.”
Really? “Yes,” he confirmed. “I say to him, ‘Run! Pick up a first down! Quit standing there!’” You yell that at the television? Or have you told him in person? “I tell him!” Tarkenton replied. “He’s come and sat right where you are. He’s here in Atlanta now.” So you still follow the game closely? “Oh, I watch the games every weekend!” he exclaimed. “I’d still play if I could!”
Tarkenton reminisced about his time in college, where he was urged by a family friend to attend the University of Georgia, despite the Bulldogs already recruiting two highly regarded quarterbacks. Initially discouraged, he contemplated transferring but ultimately chose to stay. During his first game, after watching from the sideline for three quarters, Tarkenton took matters into his own hands, stepping into the huddle and driving the Bulldogs to a game-winning touchdown. It sparked a call for him to be the starter, a pivotal moment in his journey.
Throughout his NFL career, Tarkenton pushed the boundaries of player autonomy. In spring 1966, after five seasons under head coach Norm Van Brocklin, Tarkenton made a bold move, entering the team facility and declaring, “I ain’t playing here anymore. I’m not playing for you.” When Van Brocklin asked why, Tarkenton replied, “Because I have no faith or trust in you. You don’t want a quarterback who doesn’t believe in you.”
Tarkenton’s initial success did not mend the rift with Van Brocklin. By 1966, the Giants offered four draft picks, including two first-rounders, to acquire him. While Tarkenton initially enjoyed the glamour of New York, he quickly grew disillusioned with the team’s struggles. During a meeting with Giants owner Wellington Mara, he was asked if he could cut his hair short to be “the anti-Namath” in contrast to the Jets’ star quarterback. Tarkenton quipped, “I don’t want to be the anti-Namath; I came here to win football games!”
Retelling these stories, Tarkenton chuckled. His journey culminated in three Super Bowl appearances with the Vikings, and he retired holding several passing records (47,003 yards, 3,686 completions, and 342 touchdowns) that stood for nearly two decades. “Do you think you can be too nice as a quarterback?” he pondered. Maybe. Is that a thing? “Yes,” he affirmed. “Remember, it all falls on your ass.”
“I can’t play football,” Tarkenton remarked with a grin. “So I do this.” He gestured as if he were a dealer in a high-stakes poker game.
Tarkenton is the founder of Tarkenton, a company that collaborates with smaller firms, predominantly in the tech sector. “We own eight companies and partner with five or six others,” he shared. And you’re still involved in the day-to-day? “If I’m not here,” he replied, “I’m on the phone with them.” When reminded that he could spend his days on the golf course, he quickly countered, “I have too much fun doing this.”
His passion for business was instilled in him from a young age. As a child, he would haul a wagon to a nearby grocery store, offering to carry groceries for customers in exchange for tips. By the age of 8, he was delivering newspapers. In the NFL offseason, he would knock on doors to offer truck-shipping services. Tarkenton’s first NFL contract netted him $12,500 in 1961, but by 1979, he was earning $180,000, the highest salary in the league at the time. Yet, he was never fully satisfied.
Perhaps that yearning stemmed from the fact that he never won an NFL championship. Tarkenton led the Vikings to three Super Bowls (VIII, IX, XI), all of which ended in defeat. “A tragedy,” he lamented, replaying those painful moments in his mind. He often reflects on the preparation leading up to those games, recalling how teams had an extra week to prepare. He questions whether the approach of resting players was the right one, a thought that lingers even now.
Tarkenton hesitated before retiring, a decision that eventually opened doors to a new career in entertainment. He hosted a reality show called “That’s Incredible!” and served as a commentator on “Monday Night Football.” His ventures extended into sales and marketing with Coca-Cola, where he met Buffett’s son. In 1996, he launched a digital marketing company.
“Last year, someone interviewed 1,500 billionaires about their No. 1 goal,” Tarkenton recounted. “You know what the most common answer was? They don’t want to lose money.” Eight years ago, he became interested in Apple, shifting most of his investments there. “See this here?” he asked, lifting a piece of paper to show me. “That’s the price of Apple stock this morning at 9:50 a.m.,” he said, adding, “$228.496.” You wrote that down? “Yeah,” he replied. “And when you get out of here, I’ll go back and check it again.” You check it multiple times a day? “I would say I check it 20 times a day,” he admitted, a twinkle of excitement in his eye. “Because it’s fun!”
Tarkenton has been busy traveling as well. He recently visited Paris with his wife, Linda, enjoyed time at their lake house near his close friend Nick Saban, and even played golf at Pebble Beach. “My last hole-in-one was in 2022,” he shared with pride. “At Pebble. I also had one at Augusta National years ago. I asked the guys at Augusta and Pebble how many people have made a hole-in-one at both courses. It’s a small number,” he said, his smile revealing his enjoyment of the moment.
Confident bordering on arrogant, Tarkenton navigated his life stories with ease. He transformed from a preacher’s son in the nation’s capital to a beacon of hope at a prestigious Southern university. From a third-round draft pick to one of the most recognizable athletes of his generation, he embraced his brashness, and it paid off. After decades of pursuing success, he relished the freedom to go where he wanted, do what he desired, and share the stories he cherished.
As our conversation came to a close, it became evident that Tarkenton’s energy was boundless. He walked through the narrow hallway and the lobby, pointing me toward the elevators. An employee, about to press the down button, turned to me and asked, “How was he?” Indescribable. How does anyone maintain that level of energy at 84? The employee nodded knowingly, pointing back to the office.
“This place and these people keep him sharp,” the employee remarked. “They keep him young.”
(Top photos: Focus on Sport / Getty Images, John Bazemore / Associated Press)
