Vikings trade Fran Tarkenton to Giants, Mar 7 1967 - Today in NFL History

One of Minnesota's greatest players sent shockwaves through the sport when he moved to the New York Giants - although it ended up just a temporary switch.

With the New York Giants in the doldrums, it was hoped a splashy trade for a big-name quarterback could revive the franchise’s fortunes. 

Fran Tarkenton had been the starter since the Minnesota Vikings played their first-ever game, having been drafted out of the University of Georgia in 1961. However, he had grown dissatisfied with the franchise and eventually demanded a trade. He got his wish in 1967 and the Giants parted with two first round and two second round picks to get him.

Although he beat the Vikings in his first game as a Giant, he was never able to get them to the playoffs and he was traded back to Minnesota in 1972 after managing just one winning record from five seasons in New York. Tarkenton played seven more years with the Vikings helping them to reach three Super Bowls, although they lost all three.