Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Mon Aug 17, 2026 4:20 am 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.

7DnBrnc53 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 17, 2026 6:59 am

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Mon Aug 17, 2026 4:20 am 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).

ChrisBabcock wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2026 4:18 pm 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.

Gary Najman wrote: ↑Mon Aug 17, 2026 2:20 pm

ChrisBabcock wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2026 4:18 pm 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.

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Mon Aug 17, 2026 4:20 am 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.