Fran Tarkenton Praises Kirk Cousins's Return to the Minnesota Vikings

In a column for NBC Sports, former NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton argues that the return of Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings is the greatest thing that could have happened to the franchise.

The situation in Minnesota involved a championship-caliber defense paired with an offense struggling to score touchdowns, according to NBC Sports.

“I think it’s the greatest thing that could have happened to us,” Tarkenton told Darren Wolfson of KSTP.

“We were lost. We were winning on defense. We had no offense. We had no quarterback. And now we’ve got Kirk coming back, who is having a great year. He’s a great player. He’s a better person than player. Our team should lift up now. And we’re in the best division in football. Our defense has kept us in the hunt.”

Tarkenton played for the Vikings from 1961 through 1966 and returned from 1972 through 1978. His second stint in Minnesota included three Super Bowl appearances, a mark the current team hopes to approach with Cousins.

Worked out well for HOF'er & #Vikings legend QB Fran Tarkenton to come back here in 1972. He's thrilled by the return of Cousins. I spoke w/ the 86-year-old today. Apologies, or maybe not :), for my mic being muted. Snippet from Fran + link to all below:https://t.co/L3cnhw4GKM pic.twitter.com/I9nQI5IA69

— Post by @DWolfsonKSTP on X

“And having Kirk — I cannot tell you how happy I am for the Vikings, for the fans, for the Wilfs, and for all the players and the old-timers like myself. We’ve got a chance with Kirk Cousins,” Tarkenton added.

The Vikings completed an expedited search by trading with the Raiders for Cousins, a move NBC Sports says followed the Tarkenton playbook. On Monday night, Tarkenton explained the unusual Minnesota situation to his wife, who asked, “Is Fran Tarkenton still around?”

Fran Tarkenton Praises Kirk Cousins's Return to the Minnesota Vikings

Tarkenton was the first NFL player to host Saturday Night Live. His television career included a four-year stint in the Monday Night Football booth and a role co-hosting That’s Incredible.

Beyond his football commentary, Tarkenton’s business career includes amassing a fortune in computer software and early investments in Apple. NBC Sports reported that he earned $1.2 million during his 18-year NFL career before building his business success and purchasing a $51.89 million Palm Beach home at age 86.