Joe Kapp, QB who led Vikings to first Super Bowl appearance, dies at 85
MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Kapp, the quarterback who led the Minnesota Vikings to their first Super Bowl appearance, has died.
The Vikings confirmed Kapp’s death Tuesday. He was 85 years old. An obituary said his “long battle with dementia has run out.”
“Men like Joe Kapp are the cornerstones the Minnesota Vikings franchise was built upon,” team owner Mark Wilf said. “Joe’s toughness and competitive spirit defined the Vikings teams of his era, and his tenacity and leadership were respected by teammates and opponents alike. We mourn Joe’s loss with his family, friends and Vikings fans around the world.”
Kapp played three seasons with the Vikings, amassing a 23-12-3 record. He captained the Vikings to Super Bowl IV, which they lost 23-7 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kapp belongs to both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He played college ball at the University of California, Berkeley, leading his team to the Rose Bowl after the 1958 season. Kapp also won a Grey Cup, the Canadian equivalent of the Super Bowl, with the BC Lions in 1964.
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He made the jump to the NFL in 1967 at the age of 29, starting 11 games for the Vikings and going 3-5-3 with 8 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. His best season with the team ended in the aforementioned Super Bowl loss. That year, Kapp lost just one regular season game as a starter and threw for 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
“Joe is one of my favorite teammates of all time and a great friend. All Joe wanted to do was win,” running back Dave Osborn, who played with the Vikings from 1965-1975, said. “It didn’t matter to him if he gained one yard or completed one pass, all he cared about was winning and what was best for the team. I’ll miss him.
Kapp is tied for the single-game passing touchdowns record. In 1969 against the Baltimore Colts, Kapp threw 7 touchdowns on only 28 completions in a 52-14 victory.
GALLERY: Joe Kapp, former Vikings QB who led team to first Super Bowl, dies at 85
Kapp ended his playing career with the Boston Patriots. His post-NFL career included a lengthy acting résumé, with appearances on “The Six Million Dollar Man,” the film “The Longest Yard” and more. Kapp also coached at his alma mater.
“Everybody loved Joe Kapp,” Hall of Fame Vikings safety Paul Krause said. “He was a great leader, a great friend and he really held our team together. He was a guy who liked to have fun and win football games and that’s what counted. I respected him for his love of the game and love for his teammates. We lost a good friend.”
