Hornung’s Long Wait Ends: He Joins Tarkenton, Houston, Lanier, Walker

The long wait was finally over for Paul Hornung, but Fran Tarkenton lamented that time continues to stand still for the Minnesota Vikings.

Hornung and Tarkenton were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday with defensive back Ken Houston, middle linebacker Willie Lanier and halfback Doak Walker.

Twenty years passed from the time Hornung, 51, retired from the Green Bay Packers in 1966 until his induction. Despite being named the league’s Most Valuable Player twice, his reputation was tainted by his one-year suspension in 1963 for gambling.

“Let’s put it this way, I didn’t give up hope,” Hornung said. “But it was a long time in coming. . . . I thought I might have been used somewhat like a political football. I was really getting kind of peeved and worried. But, naturally, I’m happy to be in it now.”

Tarkenton, 46, bemoaned the lack of recognition given to his Minnesota teammates of the 1960s and ‘70s, who are remembered for losing four Super Bowls.

“People have not taken our players as seriously as if we had won those four games,” said Tarkenton, who became only the second former Viking player, joining Hugh McElhenny, to make it to the Hall in 26 years. “I think those great players may have been forgotten because we lost four Super Bowls.”

Houston, 41, starred from 1967 to 1980 with the Houston Oilers and the Washington Redskins. He intercepted 49 passes and played in 12 Pro Bowl games in his 14-year career.

Lanier, 41, played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967 to 1977 and was a major part of the Chiefs’ defense.

Walker, 58, a Heisman Trophy winner at Southern Methodist, spent only six years with the Detroit Lions before retiring and going into business, but in that short time the Lions won two NFL championships.