NFL Hall of Famer quarterback Fran Tarkenton played for 18 years in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants. He had three super Bowl appearances; 3,686 completions; 6,467 pass attempts; 342 touchdowns; 47,003 yards passing; and 3,674 yards rushing—all NFL records. He followed that by hosting Monday Night Football, the popular tv show “That’s Incredible,” and a Hall of Fame induction in 1986. During these many years of incredible successes, there were incredible failures, which he attributes to be the key building blocks of his life.
Those are some of the things that might come to your mind when you hear the name Fran Tarkenton. But if you ask him, he’ll give you a different answer. “I’m an entrepreneur, first and always,” he says. Over 50 years in business, Fran has built more than 20 successful companies, all from the ground up.
And today, 76 years old, he remains as activeand involved as ever, running multiple companies out of his office inAtlanta, Georgia, including GoSmallBiz.com, Tarkenton Financial and SmallBizClub.com.
Armed with one of the most reputable legendary careers in football and an acute business acumen, Fran joined forces with Inmate Encounter as an advisory board member, financial supporter, and platform speaker. He brings to the incarcerated is the story of overcoming incredible odds. As a young man Fran believed in Jesus Christ but seldom ever found himself evangelizing or sharing the good news of salvation. It wasn’t until during a private meeting with close friend Tom Massebeau that his witness was questioned. Tom asked Franwhatthe Bible said about being lukewarm in the faith. Franexplainedthat the Lord spits out those that are lukewarm in the faith. Tom went on to encourage Fran to share his faith in Florida prisons and he accepted. On September 11, 2015, at the age of 73 within the confines of Everglades Correctional Institution, Fran Tarkenton walked out onto a crowded basketball court armed only with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was surrounded by hundreds of inmates that came to hear his story and was on that crowded basketball court where Franplayed the game of his life while sharing stories of trials, tribulation, victory, and salvation. He describes the experience as being the single greatest day of his life and returned home a changed man.
