The Five Worst Minnesota Vikings Quarterbacks of All Time

When I last made a list of Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks, it was on the five greatest. It was certainly a hard list to make, but this one felt almost harder. It really did pain me to put a few of these guys on here, but I think other Vikings fans will feel the same.

As much as they have a rich history in quarterbacks, the Vikings also had their share of the bad ones. Here's my take on who were the worst.

The only criteria is they must have started a game for the Vikings.

5. Tarvaris Jackson

It really pains me to put Jackson on here. It really, really does.

But Tarvaris Jackson is perhaps the most frustrating quarterback the Vikings have ever had. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but even more flashes of failure.

Jackson's stats aren't very solid either. A 20/18 TD/INT ratio, a 76.5 career QB rating, and a 58.4 completion percentage.

Jackson still has the tools to become a great NFL quarterback. He really does. But for now, it seems he will remain the scapegoat for Vikings failures in years to come.

4. Daunte Culpepper (2005)

The man who I considered to be the Vikings' second greatest quarterback of all time, also had perhaps the most atrocious downfall of any Vikings' QB.

After coming off an MVP-like 2004 season, fans and pundits expected for Culpepper to do just as well in 2005.

Even with the loss of Randy Moss, people thought that Culpepper would actually thrive without the distraction of him, especially since Nate Burleson had proved to be a very competent receiver.

But Culpepper played atrociously in 2005. He went 2-5 as a starter, throwing six TDs to 12 picks, and with a paltry QB rating of 72.0.

During a game against the Panthers, Culpepper tore a ligament in his knee, and his career was never the same.

3. Brad Johnson (2006)

Brad Johnson had successful stints with the Vikings before, and had nearly led them to a playoff berth in 2005 after Culpepper went down with an injury.

But by the time 2006 rolled around, "Checkdown Charlie" had lost nearly all the things that made him even a competent quarterback.

Johnson never had much arm strength, and what little was left was gone in 2006. His longest completion that season? 36 yards.

Fans become tired with Johnson's conservative play, especially after years of watching Culpepper bomb the ball 50+ yards to Moss nearly every game. Johnson's stats also suffered as a result.

9/15 TD/INT ratio, and a 72.0 QB rating. He managed to have a respectable completion percentage, with 62 percent.

Johnson's game manager-like playing simply didn't fit into the offense the Vikings wanted, and he was quietly shown the door at the end of the season.

2. Gary Cuozzo

Cuozzo's faults weren't exactly clear during his tenure as the Vikings quarterback, because the Vikings could still manage to win.

As a starting quarterback, Cuozzo had a 16-4 record with the Vikings, but he never had impressive statistics. A 17/23 TD/INT ratio, only 3,255 passing yards over three seasons with the Vikings, and a 49.4 completion percentage.

To top it all off, Cuozzo carried a 62.1 QB rating. Ouch.

Cuozzo also started two playoff games for the Vikings, and performed poorly in both. He went 9/27 for 146 yards with one TD and one INT against the 49ers in the 1970 Divisional round.

His second, a year later, a 12/22 performance for 124 yards with one TD and two INTs in a loss against the Dallas Cowboys.

1. Spergon Wynn

Not many Vikings fans remember the third string quarterback who stepped in for two games at the end of the 2001 season after backup quarterback Todd Bouman went down with an injury.

But those who do, remember two painfully terrible games.

Wynn simply wasn't fit to be an NFL quarterback. In the two games he started, he went 48/98 for 418 yards with six interceptions, and, get this, ONE touchdown.

Compound that with a 49 completion percentage, and a horrible 38.6 QB rating, and Wynn is by far the worst Minnesota Vikings quarterback of all time.

It's also worth noting that Wynn started the last game ever for Dennis Green, and the first game ever for Mike Tice. Not exactly the best way to start or end a career for any coach.

Wynn never played in the NFL again after his two starts.