The Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame will induct its inaugural class on Oct. 22 at the College Football Hall of Fame. The 36-member inaugural class includes Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and former Georgia and Athens High player Fran Tarkenton.
Tarkenton, the first Georgia high school graduate to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was a three-sport star at Athens High School, earning all-state honors in baseball, basketball and football. As a junior, he was the quarterback on Athens High’s football team that won the Class A championship, defeating Valdosta 41-20.
Tarkenton played football at Georgia as a hometown hero and was named an All-SEC freshman after leading Georgia’s Bullpups to an undefeated season.
As a junior, Tarkenton earned All-SEC honors and led the Bulldogs to their first SEC title in 11 years and an Orange Bowl victory. Tarkenton led the SEC in completions and set a conference record for completion percentage.
The Minnesota Vikings drafted Tarkenton with the 29th overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft. Tarkenton’s pro career spanned 18 seasons as he earned nine Pro Bowl nods, three Super Bowl appearances and one league MVP award (1975).
Tarkenton retired in 1978 with NFL career records in attempts, completions, yardage, touchdowns, rushing yards by a quarterback and wins by a starting quarterback.
Tarkenton finished with 47,003 passing yards, 342 touchdown passes, 3,674 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns.
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