2023-05-10 07:00:00
The Minnesota Vikings mourn the death of Joe Kapp. The former NFL quarterback died at the age of 85 from complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
- Via the CFL to the Vikings legend
- Lawsuit with NFL leads to changes in collective agreement
- 1969 record game against the Baltimore Colts
When the Minnesota Vikings decided to bring Joe Kapp to Minneapolis in 1967, they had more hopes than expectations. Kapp, then 29 years old, had already been drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 18th round of 1959, but did not make it onto the roster. Then Kapp went to the Canadian Football League, first playing for the Calgary Stampeders and later for the BC Lions, with whom he won the Gray Cup in 1964. As the top player of the 1963 and 1964 seasons, Kapp was honored with several awards in the CFL, his shirt number 22 is no longer assigned in the Lions.
Although Kapp only played three seasons with the Vikings as a result, he created a legend through his spirit. His words “40 for 60” are still well known in Minneapolis. Kapp said: “There is no most valuable Viking. There are 40 most valuable Vikings.” The quarterback alluded to the roster size of 40 players fighting 60 minutes for the same cause and declined the award for team MVP. Kapp was also characterized by his fighting spirit and commitment, which was compared to the physique and presence of linebackers at the time.
The #Vikings are mourning the passing of QB Joe Kapp.
Kapp, who played in Minnesota from 1967-1969, led the team to the 1969 NFL Championship. pic.twitter.com/o0P0StE47M
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 9, 2023
“Men like Joe Kapp are the cornerstones on which the Minnesota Vikings franchise was built,” said Vikings owner Mark Wilf in condolences. In terms of sport, Kapp led the Vikings to their first Super Bowl appearance in the 1969 season, which Minnesota lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. Curious: Kapp played on a contract option that was unusual at the time – without agreeing on a long-term contract. Because of this situation, after the Super Bowl run, Kapp decided to go into free agency where, surprisingly, he did not receive an offer from any NFL team.
Bad career end for the Patriots
It wasn’t until October 1970 that the Boston Patriots took him on to their team under a record four-year contract. However, after Kapp disappointed the rest of the season with the Patriots, the team asked him to sign a standard contract at the time. Kapp refused, left training camp before the 1971 season, ended his career, and subsequently sued the NFL, saying the standard contracts were unconstitutional. Although he was right after four years, he was not awarded any compensation. In 1977, the “Kapp case” led to changes in the wage agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA players’ union.
In 2016, Kapp was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. A player who still holds a great record in the NFL, although he has to share this record with seven other quarterbacks, has now died as a result of the disease. In 1969, he made seven touchdown passes in one game in a 52-14 win over the Baltimore Colts. He shares the record with Sid Luckman (1943/Chicago Bears), Adrian Burk (1954/Philadelphia Eagles), George Blanda (1961/Houston Oilers), YA Tittle (1962/New York Giants), Peyton Manning (2013/Denver). Broncos), Nick Foles (2013/Philadelphia Eagles) and Drew Brees (2015/New Orleans Saints).
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