The 1963 Minnesota Vikings, whose roster included future stars Fran Tarkenton, Bill Brown, Mick Tingelhoff and Jim Marshall, managed to lose to the Packers twice and finished 5-8-1. After the season, six players filed for unemployment. Their annual salaries, ranging from $8,000 to $15,000, had been paid in full. But they had families to feed.

Initially, the claims of these unnamed athletes were upheld. But an appeals tribunal eventually denied most of their arguments. The Tribune’s Sam Romer explained:

Appeal Tribunal Denies Jobless
Benefits to Six Viking Players

By SAM ROMER
Minneapolis Tribune staff writer

The Minnesota Employment Security Department has rejected claims by six Minnesota Viking professional football players for $38-a-week jobless benefits after the 1963 regular season ended.

Throughout his career, quarterback Fran Tarkenton was known for drawing plays in the dirt. Here he drew a play in the snow during a workout at St. Paul’s Midway Stadium with rookie quarterback Ron VanderKelen in December 1963. (AP photo)

A player is ineligible for benefits after the season ends if his contract remains in effect.

He can receive the weekly benefit after the contract expires and before he signs a new pact.

He can also receive benefits if he is released during the contract period.

In each case, the full salary was paid in semi-monthly installments during the regular season, but the contracts were worded to run until May 1, 1964.

EACH of the players applied for jobless benefits after the season ended — at Wilmington, Calif.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Freeport, N.Y.; Waco, Texas, and Los Angeles; Calif.

Administrative decisions by a department claims deputy awarded benefits to the players. However, the tribunal oeverruled the decisions.

It noted that the contract required the player to “maintain his skills as a football player” and “to refrain from activities and associations which would be detrimental to the team.”

These clauses made clear, according to the tribunal, that the contract continued the employment relationship between the club and the player until it expired, and he was not eligible for benefits until the contract was terminated.

IN TWO cases, the club and the players signed new contracts before the old ones expired and the tribunal ruled that these players were not eligible for benefits.

In other cases where new contracts were not signed before summer or, as in one case, where the player rejected a proposed offer, it ordered that benefits be paid for the period after May 1.

In three cases where the players were released after a new contract was signed, the tribunal upheld their right to benefits.

Nov. 13, 1963: Mick Tingelhoff, Grady Alderman and Ed Sharockman warmed up over an impromptu fire after practice at Midway Stadium. (Minneapolis Star photo by John Croft)

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