Tommy Kramer
Encyclopedia
Thomas Francis Kramer is an American
former professional football
player who was a quarterback
in the NFL
from 1977 to 1990. He played collegiately at Rice University
and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings
in the first round (27th overall) of the 1977 NFL Draft
after being named MVP of the 1977 Senior Bowl
.
at Robert E. Lee High School
in San Antonio. He guided the Volunteers to a state title in 1971 and then to the state semi-finals in 1972. The state championship game in 1971 was the first high school game played in the new Texas Stadium
(Dallas Cowboys) in Irving, Texas. Kramer guided the Lee Volunteers to a 28-27 victory which has been hailed by some as the best high school game ever played in Texas. Kramer's high school teammates included Pat Rockett
(played major league baseball for the Atlanta Braves), and Richard Osborne
(played for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles).
The Vols went 27-1-1 during Kramer's two years on the varsity, beating Wichita Falls High School
28-27 for the Class 4A state title in 1971 and losing to Baytown Sterling 21-20 in the 1972 state semifinals. Guided by head coach John Ferrara, the 1971 team finished 14-0-1 - a 7-7 tie with rival Churchill kept the Vols from being perfect - and the 1972 squad went 13-1. In an era when most Texas high school football teams churned out yardage with ground-oriented offenses such as the wishbone or the veer, Lee achieved success by throwing the ball.
Kramer passed for 2,588 yards as a senior, then a state record, and completed 149 of 294 passes for 28 touchdowns. In two seasons, he completed 327 of 597 attempts for 5,489 yards and 54 TDs. Surrounded by sure-handed receivers Richard Osborne
, Pat Rockett
and Gary Haack, Kramer was a master at picking apart defenses with his deft passing. Kramer started all but one game as a varsity player, going 26-1-1. He made his debut in the 1971 season opener, replacing starter Bruce Trimmier and rallying Lee to a 7-3 victory over Alamo Heights on a rainy night.
quarterback for the Vikings before the 1979 NFL season
after Fran Tarkenton
retired. He was drafted by the Vikings to be the heir apparent to Tarkenton. He earned the nickname "Two Minute Tommy" for many late game come-from-behind victories. He demonstrated this on December 14, 1980, leading the Vikings to a striking comeback over the Cleveland Browns
. With 6 seconds left, he threw a Hail Mary pass
to Ahmad Rashad
, who was clustered in a group of Browns defenders, yet managed to catch the ball and land in the end zone. This memorable pass earned the Vikings a playoff berth.
Throughout his career with the Vikings, Kramer suffered on the field injuries, resulting in many missed games for the team during the mid 1980s. He was selected to the Pro Bowl
following the 1986 season, in which he was the highest rated quarterback in the NFL. Kramer was the first NFL quarterback to throw for over 450 yards in a game twice, and he once threw six touchdowns in a single game versus the Green Bay Packers
. He was released by the Vikings after the 1989 season and was signed by the New Orleans Saints
in 1990. He appeared in only one game for the Saints (ironically, against the Vikings) and retired after the 1990 season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who was a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
from 1977 to 1990. He played collegiately at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in the first round (27th overall) of the 1977 NFL Draft
1977 NFL Draft
The 1977 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 3–4, 1977...
after being named MVP of the 1977 Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
.
Early years
Kramer played his high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Robert E. Lee High School
Robert E. Lee High School (San Antonio, Texas)
Robert E. Lee High School is a high school in San Antonio, Texas. A part of the North East Independent School District, it serves portions of San Antonio, all of the city of City of Castle Hills, and a portion of Balcones Heights....
in San Antonio. He guided the Volunteers to a state title in 1971 and then to the state semi-finals in 1972. The state championship game in 1971 was the first high school game played in the new Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
(Dallas Cowboys) in Irving, Texas. Kramer guided the Lee Volunteers to a 28-27 victory which has been hailed by some as the best high school game ever played in Texas. Kramer's high school teammates included Pat Rockett
Pat Rockett
Patrick Edward Rockett was a shortstop who played for the Atlanta Braves between 1976 and 1978. Rockett was drafted by the Braves with the 10th pick of the 1973 amateur draft. He played his first game with the Braves on September 17, 1976 against the Los Angeles Dodgers; it was one of only four...
(played major league baseball for the Atlanta Braves), and Richard Osborne
Richard Osborne (American football)
Richard Arlen Osborne is a former American football tight end who played for four seasons in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the ninth round of the 1976 NFL Draft, but was waived during the 1976 season...
(played for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles).
The Vols went 27-1-1 during Kramer's two years on the varsity, beating Wichita Falls High School
Wichita Falls High School
Wichita Falls High School or WFHS is a public school in Wichita Falls, Texas . It is part of the Wichita Falls Independent School District and is one of the district's three high schools....
28-27 for the Class 4A state title in 1971 and losing to Baytown Sterling 21-20 in the 1972 state semifinals. Guided by head coach John Ferrara, the 1971 team finished 14-0-1 - a 7-7 tie with rival Churchill kept the Vols from being perfect - and the 1972 squad went 13-1. In an era when most Texas high school football teams churned out yardage with ground-oriented offenses such as the wishbone or the veer, Lee achieved success by throwing the ball.
Kramer passed for 2,588 yards as a senior, then a state record, and completed 149 of 294 passes for 28 touchdowns. In two seasons, he completed 327 of 597 attempts for 5,489 yards and 54 TDs. Surrounded by sure-handed receivers Richard Osborne
Richard Osborne
Richard Osborne is a former Australian rules footballer who enjoyed a lengthy career in the VFL/AFL. He played a total of 283 games in 17 seasons, and played with four different clubs, as well as representing Victoria 7 times in interstate competition.Originally from Bulleen/Templestowe, he...
, Pat Rockett
Pat Rockett
Patrick Edward Rockett was a shortstop who played for the Atlanta Braves between 1976 and 1978. Rockett was drafted by the Braves with the 10th pick of the 1973 amateur draft. He played his first game with the Braves on September 17, 1976 against the Los Angeles Dodgers; it was one of only four...
and Gary Haack, Kramer was a master at picking apart defenses with his deft passing. Kramer started all but one game as a varsity player, going 26-1-1. He made his debut in the 1971 season opener, replacing starter Bruce Trimmier and rallying Lee to a 7-3 victory over Alamo Heights on a rainy night.
Professional career
Kramer became the startingStarting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
quarterback for the Vikings before the 1979 NFL season
1979 NFL season
The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...
after Fran Tarkenton
Fran Tarkenton
Francis Asbury "Fran" Tarkenton is a former professional football player, TV personality, and computer software executive....
retired. He was drafted by the Vikings to be the heir apparent to Tarkenton. He earned the nickname "Two Minute Tommy" for many late game come-from-behind victories. He demonstrated this on December 14, 1980, leading the Vikings to a striking comeback over the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. With 6 seconds left, he threw a Hail Mary pass
Hail Mary pass
A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....
to Ahmad Rashad
Ahmad Rashad
Ahmad Rashād is an American sportscaster and former professional football player. An All-American running back and wide receiver from Oregon known as Bobby Moore, Rashad was the fourth overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals...
, who was clustered in a group of Browns defenders, yet managed to catch the ball and land in the end zone. This memorable pass earned the Vikings a playoff berth.
Throughout his career with the Vikings, Kramer suffered on the field injuries, resulting in many missed games for the team during the mid 1980s. He was selected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
following the 1986 season, in which he was the highest rated quarterback in the NFL. Kramer was the first NFL quarterback to throw for over 450 yards in a game twice, and he once threw six touchdowns in a single game versus the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. He was released by the Vikings after the 1989 season and was signed by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in 1990. He appeared in only one game for the Saints (ironically, against the Vikings) and retired after the 1990 season.