Which Super Bowl drought do you find the most surprising?

[7DnBrnc53]

To never win a world championship or go to another SB since 1977 is tough for Vikings fans, but maybe karma just bit the franchise on the bottom? Jim Finks may be in the HOF but his saga with two Vikings legends was incredible to say the least.

First, he gets rid of Fran Tarkenton after Norm Van Brocklin leaves the team. Maybe he felt both needed a change of scenery which is understandable, so he brings in Joe Kapp. Kapp had a tough debut season with the Vikings but leads the team to the playoffs in his second season. So what does Finks and Vikings' management do? Well ... nothing. They let Kapp play out his option for 1969, where he has a great season, leading his team to an NFL championship and berth in the SB. Without a contract! Instead of renegotiating with him, they let him walk in 1970.

The team basically feels they can win with any QB, so they bring in Cuozzo, then Snead, before finally bringing back Tarkenton, who they should probably had never gotten rid of. With the draft pick from NE for Kapp, they probably could have put a package together to get Manning, Plunkett, Pastorini, Theismann, Anderson or even Lynn Dickey in 1971 but decided not to go with any of these young passers.

I wonder how much Finks really understood the QB position. In 1979, he decided against drafting Joe Montana because they had Mike Phipps and Bob Avellini (along with a young Vince Evans).

[CSKreager]

And somehow the godawful Buccaneers have 2 SB’s

[Brian wolf]

To never win a world championship or go to another SB since 1977 is tough for Vikings fans, but maybe karma just bit the franchise on the bottom? Jim Finks may be in the HOF but his saga with two Vikings legends was incredible to say the least.

First, he gets rid of Fran Tarkenton after Norm Van Brocklin leaves the team. Maybe he felt both needed a change of scenery which is understandable, so he brings in Joe Kapp. Kapp had a tough debut season with the Vikings but leads the team to the playoffs in his second season. So what does Finks and Vikings' management do? Well ... nothing. They let Kapp play out his option for 1969, where he has a great season, leading his team to an NFL championship and berth in the SB. Without a contract! Instead of renegotiating with him, they let him walk in 1970.

The team basically feels they can win with any QB, so they bring in Cuozzo, then Snead, before finally bringing back Tarkenton, who they should probably had never gotten rid of. With the draft pick from NE for Kapp, they probably could have put a package together to get Manning, Plunkett, Pastorini, Theismann, Anderson or even Lynn Dickey in 1971 but decided not to go with any of these young passers.

I wonder how much Finks really understood the QB position. In 1979, he decided against drafting Joe Montana because they had Mike Phipps and Bob Avellini (along with a young Vince Evans).

Even with the Vikings, he gave Tarkenton little offensive help during their SB years in the 70s, obtaining Gilliam and drafting Foreman. From 1969 to 1973 the Vikings drafts were nothing special, though he obtained veterans who fit the team concept.
Its still amazing that the 1971 Vikings had more wins than TD passes from the QBs.

[Gary Najman]

Looking at the options in the original post, I'll go with the Cowboys not winning an NFC championship since 1995 being the most surprising. Given how wide open that conference has generally been since then.

THey even haven't reach a Conference Championship Game, which I find more shocking, goving the fact they have had six (at least) 12-win seasons since then, including three straight from 2021-2023.

[SeahawkFever]

Looking at the options in the original post, I'll go with the Cowboys not winning an NFC championship since 1995 being the most surprising. Given how wide open that conference has generally been since then.

THey even haven't reach a Conference Championship Game, which I find more shocking, goving the fact they have had six (at least) 12-win seasons since then, including three straight from 2021-2023.

To be fair, maybe they could’ve in 2014 if Dez Bryant is given a catch against Green Bay.

Though the Cowboys also had the flag against them taken away vs Detroit too, so there’s that as well.

[JohnH19]

To never win a world championship or go to another SB since 1977 is tough for Vikings fans, but maybe karma just bit the franchise on the bottom? Jim Finks may be in the HOF but his saga with two Vikings legends was incredible to say the least.

First, he gets rid of Fran Tarkenton after Norm Van Brocklin leaves the team. Maybe he felt both needed a change of scenery which is understandable, so he brings in Joe Kapp. Kapp had a tough debut season with the Vikings but leads the team to the playoffs in his second season. So what does Finks and Vikings' management do? Well ... nothing. They let Kapp play out his option for 1969, where he has a great season, leading his team to an NFL championship and berth in the SB. Without a contract! Instead of renegotiating with him, they let him walk in 1970.

The team basically feels they can win with any QB, so they bring in Cuozzo, then Snead, before finally bringing back Tarkenton, who they should probably had never gotten rid of. With the draft pick from NE for Kapp, they probably could have put a package together to get Manning, Plunkett, Pastorini, Theismann, Anderson or even Lynn Dickey in 1971 but decided not to go with any of these young passers.

In Finks’s defence, Tarkenton wanted a change of scenery in 1967 and he didn’t change his mind after NVB left. Letting Kapp get away, on the other hand, is inexcusable. The Vikings almost certainly would have won a Super Bowl or two in 1970 and 71 with Kapp under center. I would love to know why Norm Snead failed so miserably in 1971. He was a much better QB than Cuozzo and Lee.