Vikings QB Joe Kapp Prepares for 1969 Playoffs

Friday, December 26, 1969 — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp (Hart High Class of 1955) leads a practice session for the next day's NFL Western Conference playoff game against the L.A. Rams at Metropolitan Stadium, home of the Vikings.

Associated Press wire photo, 8x10 (5½x9-inch print area) from an unknown newspaper archive, with a photo editor's crop marks and notes. Cutline reads:

Kapp led the Vikings to a 23-20 win, but the Rams made them work for it. Two passes from Roman Gabriel and a field goal took the Rams into halftime with a 17-7 lead. But with the exception of another field goal, they were finished. The pivotal touchdown came in the fourth quarter when Kapp hopped into the end zone from 2 yards out to cap off a 65-yard drive on 10 plays.

Kapp's Vikings went on to win the NFL Championship at home the following week against the Cleveland Browns, 27-7.

Kapp's postseason wasn't over. At the time, the Super Bowl was the championship game between the NFL leader and the American Football League (AFL) leader. Super Bowl IV was played January 11, 1970. The Vikings lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-7. But Kapp completed his personal trifecta on that date, becoming the only person ever to quarterback in all three title contests — the Rose Bowl, Super Bowl, and Canada's Grey Cup.

Kapp also had the distinction of quarterbacking in the last Super Bowl that pitted the NFL against the AFL. The AFL ceased to exist as a separate league in 1970 when it completed its merger into the NFL, which had been in the works for several years. The NFL reorganized and created a National Football Conference and American Football Conference. Beginning with Super Bowl V in January 1971, it became a matchup between the NFC leader and the AFC leader for the NFL championship.