Teams
- Minnesota Vikings (1977-1989)
- New Orleans Saints (1990)
Accolades
- 1-time Pro Bowler (1986)
- 1-time All-Pro (1986)
- Pro Football Weekly “Comeback Player of the Year” (1986)
“Ever since he came into the NFL in 1977, and especially since he took over at quarterback for Fran Tarkenton in 1979, Minnesota’s Tommy Kramer has been routinely feeding the masses with one fish and one loaf, He has put miracle points on the board in all kinds of situations, including game-winning passes with 1:38, 0:17 and 0:13 remaining.”
—Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated (11/16/81) (source)
Somebody had to follow Fran Tarkenton. No pressure. When Tarkenton retired after the 1978 season, he was the NFL’s all-time leader in completions, yards passing, and TD passes. Best of luck to ya, Tommy Kramer.
“Two-Minute” Tommy Kramer, a nickname bestowed upon him since high school due to his ability to deliver at the end of games, was beginning his third season, and had only started one prior game. He would go on to be the Vikes’ primary starter for seven of the next eight seasons.
Record-wise, the results were decidedly mixed (Kramer never won more than eight games in a season). However, it’s hard to blame the San Antonian. His first three seasons as full-time starter, he aired it out for over 3,000 yards in each, capped off by a 3,912 yard season in 1981 when he missed two games. He also managed to take Minnesota to the playoffs in 1980, but was assaulted for five picks and a fumble in an eventual loss to the would-be NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Starting all nine games in the strike-shortened 1982 season, he guided the Vikings to a 5-4 mark and their first playoff win in five years, helping christen the Metrodome in its inaugural season again Steve Bartkowski and the Atlanta Falcons. In the first-round match-up, Kramer hurled 253 yards and two TDs in the narrow 30-24 victory. He would come back the next week and toss 252 more, in a 21-7 losing effort against the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins.
You’d be mistaken to think his career was winding down when he started only 21 games from 1982-1984, but he had two more fantastic seasons left in his pocket. Despite a 6-9 record under his leadership, he threw for 3,522 yards in 1985. Yet his best season followed in 1986. He passed for 3,000 yards in 13 starts, taking the Vikings to a 7-6 record in those games. His 3,000 yards passing, along with his league-leading 92.6 Passer Rating and 8.1 yards/attempt (also tops of the pops), helped garner him the Pro Football Weekly “Comeback Player of the Year” distinction in ’86, as well as his lone Pro Bowl. The highlight of the season came in Week 7, playing the then-undefeated and defending Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears. Kramer threw for 239 yards, adding three TDs (two by air), helping the Vikings win a 23-7 shocker. Unfortunately, despite a 5-2 start, Minnesota would fall one win short of a playoff appearance.
Kramer would appear in two more playoff games. He departed the 1987 NFC Wild Card after suffering a pinched nerve in his neck, essentially relegating him to back-up status behind Wade Wilson, who would take the Vikings to the NFC Championship game (a loss to eventual Super Bowl XXII winners Washington). He would then appear in garbage time during the NFC Divisional Playoff in 1989, a 41-13 whooping by eventual Lombardi Trophy holders San Francisco.
Following Fran Tarkenton has to have been one of pro quarterbacking’s toughest all-time follow-up acts, considering the level Tarenton was still playing at. But Tommy Kramer pulled it off admirably, and despite being mired in a division with a dominant Chicago Bears team, he kept the Minnesota Vikings relevant and competitive throughout the 80s.
Deviation Chart
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | -0.007 | 0.032 | 0.097 | -0.004 | -0.021 | 0.002 | 0.055 | 0.015 |
| Playoffs | 0 | -0.142 | -0.481 | -0.435 | -0.069 | -0.060 | -0.518 | -0.082 |
Longevity Bonus = 0.5 Title Bonus = 0.0
Index Score = 1.122 (average QB = 0.0)
Deviation Rank (out of 150)
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | 99th | 47th | 39th | 119th | 116th | 86th | 65th | 96th |
| Playoffs | T-47th | 107th | 130th | 136th | 116th | 107th | 133rd | 99th |
Why is he on the Top 100 list?
Two top 50 appearances in regular season stats via total yards per game (47th) and total touchdowns per game (an impressive 39th). Also, finishing in the top half of eligible QBs for TDs per attempt (65th) helps.
Why isn’t he higher on the list?
Playoff appearances weren’t usually kind to Mr. Kramer. Only in the Top 100 in win percentage (T-47thalong with everyone else at .500) and 99thin interceptions per pass attempt. Also, six picks and five fumbles in just four playoff starts drops him to the bottom 15 (out of 150) in total turnovers per game.
The Quarterback Project 