Podcast Summary

Podcast: Bloomberg Talks
Episode: NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton Talks Football & Entrepreneurial Endeavors
Host: Bloomberg
Guest: Fran Tarkenton
Date: December 3, 2025

Episode Theme & Purpose

This episode features a wide-ranging conversation with NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton. The discussion focuses on the evolution of football, challenges in both college and professional sports, Tarkenton’s unique playing style and career, and his extensive entrepreneurship journey post-NFL. The episode also delves into Tarkenton’s philosophy, his family background, and his views on the modern business environment, particularly for small businesses and the use of technology.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The State of Modern Football

• Evolution of the Game:

  • Tarkenton reflects on how football has changed, particularly regarding player health, quarterback roles, and team dynamics.
  • “There’s not much difference between [the teams]. … The quarterback position, which I happen to play, … Half the quarterbacks or more this year have missed games. They don’t stay healthy…” (01:02)

• Injury Prevalence:

  • Increasing game schedules and more intense play have led to more injuries, especially among quarterbacks.
  • “Quarterbacks are getting hurt at a higher rate. … Roger Staubach played every game. I played every game. … We never miss games. I missed five games in 18 years.” (01:55)

• Playing Style – The Scrambler:

  • Tarkenton was a pioneering scrambling quarterback; he recounts not realizing he was “different” for moving out of the pocket and improvising on the field.
  • “When I came into pro football, nobody ran, nobody scrambled. So I was this crazed, different person that would never make it.” (02:42)

The Business Side and Athlete Compensation

• Then vs. Now – Player Salaries:

  • Insightful contrast between earnings in his era and now.
  • “1961, I was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings. I made $12,500. … I was the highest paid [eventually] in all of football, and I made $180,000 a year. … Now they’re making 40 million, 50 million a year.” (03:58)

• Television’s Role in the Sport:

  • Tarkenton credits TV for fueling the astronomical growth of player and media salaries in the NFL:
    “Television has made all that work.” (04:32)

College Football: NIL & Transfer Era

• Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL):
  • Tarkenton comments on the dramatic change in college sports, with players now earning significant income.
  • “They’re paying these players 3 million to 5 million now a year. … It’s all changed and they haven’t got a grasp on it right now.” (06:42)

Family, Upbringing, and Philosophy

• Influence of His Parents:

  • Tarkenton’s father was a Pentecostal Holiness preacher, shaping his work ethic and approach to life.
  • “We couldn’t do any work on Sundays. Somehow they allowed me to come to Minnesota to play for the Vikings.” (05:28)

• Humorous Family Anecdote:

  • After an early-career win, his mother surprised him in Minnesota. When asked, “Mom, how many great quarterbacks do you think there really are in the world?” she replied:
    • “One less than you think, my son.” (06:15)

Post-Playing Career & Entrepreneurship

• Continuous Activity and Staying Young:

  • Tarkenton attributes his longevity and mental sharpness to always staying busy—work from childhood through adulthood.
  • “I have stayed active all my life. … I started the insurance company when I was…” (07:18)
  • “I’ve started 24 companies in my life … I’m keeping active because the mission of business is to help people.” (08:12, 08:39)

• Latest Ventures – PIP IQ & Technology for SMBs:

  • PIP IQ is a tech and AI-driven business platform targeting small and midsize business productivity and privacy.
  • “It’s all about AI. … We have built our IQ and we’re making that available to small businesses at a price they can afford.” (07:47-08:12)

• The Evolving Business Landscape:

  • “The technology has changed at all. This is the greatest time I’ve ever had in business. You can do more today than ever before.” (08:45)

NFL and College Game Dynamics

• Challenges Facing Teams Like the Giants and Vikings:

  • Analysis of quarterback decisions and the difficult climate for team owners.
  • “I wouldn’t want to be in pro football now as a coach or an owner because it’s very difficult to win.” (09:36)

• Quarterback Skills Requirement:

  • “You cannot win today without a quarterback that can run.” (10:32)

• Player Safety, Rule Changes, and Physical Evolution:

  • Comments on larger, stronger players and injury risk, especially concussions and long-term health.
  • “These guys are bigger than their body should be. … The big ones were 230 to 240. Today they’re 340, 350.” (11:37)
  • “Football players especially get hit hard by big guys … more dangerous game today than ever before. … So many of my teammates are gone because we didn’t understand [concussions].” (12:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Innovation in Playing Style:

  • “I was this crazed, different person that would never make it. … Six years later, I had Gino Marchetti introduce me as player of the Year.” (02:42-03:40)

• Motherly Wisdom:

  • “Mom, how many great quarterbacks do you think there really are in the world?”
    “One less than you think, my son.” (06:15)

• On Modern Quarterbacks:

  • “Patrick Mahomes is … coming to another level … But if you’re mobile, you go down, you run out of bounds, you fall down and they protect you more today than they did in my time.” (10:47)

• Philosophy of Business:

  • “The mission of business is not to sell. The mission of business is to be able to help people do better.” (08:12)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:02]: Fran Tarkenton discusses how the NFL has changed, with particular focus on injuries and competitiveness.
• [02:42]: Recounts innovating the scrambling quarterback style.
• [03:58]: Salary comparison: then vs. now in the NFL.
• [04:32]: Remarks on TV’s influence on football’s financial growth.
• [06:15]: Humorous mother-son moment after a major win.
• [06:42]: Discussion of major changes in college football—NIL, player pay, and the transfer portal.
• [07:47]: Details on his current company, PIP IQ, and helping small businesses with technology.
• [08:45]: Insight into how business has changed thanks to technology.
• [09:36]: Thoughts on the struggles of the Giants, Vikings, and NFL coaching/ownership today.
• [10:32]: Contemporary quarterback requirements—must be athletic, run-capable.
• [11:37]: Comments on today’s player physique and increasing injury issues.
• [12:52]: Reflections on concussion awareness and increased danger in today’s football.

Tone & Language

The conversation is candid, reflective, and often laced with humor and humility. Tarkenton’s storytelling is folksy and direct, while the hosts maintain an enthusiastic and engaged tone.

This summary captures the episode’s essential discussions and provides a clear roadmap for listeners seeking insights on both football and entrepreneurship from one of the NFL’s legendary quarterbacks.