The 1967 Fran Tarkenton Trade: The Giants Got a Star, Minnesota Built a Contender
New York acquired Fran Tarkenton for four premium draft picks. Minnesota used the return on Clint Jones, Bob Grim, Ron Yary and Ed White, helping build the roster that dominated the NFC in the 1970s.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- pick 1967 first round pick (#2-Clint Jones)
- pick 1967 second round pick (#28-Bob Grim)
- pick 1968 first round pick (#1-Ron Yary)
- pick 1969 second round pick (#39-Ed White (Alvin))
- player undisclosed consideration
New York Giants Received
- player Fran Tarkenton
- player undisclosed consideration
Trade Summary
The Giants acquired Fran Tarkenton and received five seasons of star quarterback play. Minnesota collected a massive pick package that produced Ron Yary, Ed White, Bob Grim, and other value, then later reacquired Tarkenton. New York received the best immediate player, but the Vikings converted the return into more lasting franchise value.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Minnesota traded quarterback Fran Tarkenton to the New York Giants on March 7, 1967 for first- and second-round picks in 1967, a first-round pick in 1968 and a second-round pick in 1969. The Vikings used those selections on Clint Jones, Bob Grim, Ron Yary and Ed White.
Why New York Paid the Price
The Giants needed a franchise quarterback and received one. Tarkenton was only 27 and already one of the league's most creative passers. He gave New York five productive seasons and immediately upgraded a team searching for credibility at the sport's most important position.
Why Minnesota's Return Became More Powerful
The Vikings turned four premium picks into multiple long-term starters. Yary became a Hall of Fame tackle and one of the anchors of Minnesota's great 1970s teams. White became a high-level offensive lineman, while Grim and Jones supplied additional value. The trade helped stock the roster just as Bud Grant arrived and Minnesota began building its decade of contention.
The later history adds an unusual twist: Minnesota reacquired Tarkenton in 1972. That separate transaction should not be folded into the original trade as though it were part of one continuous deal, but it underscores how much roster value the Vikings created after moving him.
The Long-Term Legacy
This was not a case where the team acquiring the star failed. Tarkenton played excellent football for the Giants. Minnesota simply converted the draft package into broader and longer-lasting franchise value.
Final Verdict
The Minnesota Vikings Win verdict remains appropriate. New York received a Hall of Fame quarterback in his prime, but Minnesota's four-player return helped form the infrastructure of a sustained championship contender.