Sam Darnold's Stubborn Route to Super Bowl Glory
Sam Darnold celebrates with head coach Mike MacDonald after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams in this year's NFC championship game. The quarterback's journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward, marked by setbacks, perseverance, and ultimate redemption.
From Draft Bust to Super Bowl Contender
For Sam Darnold, the reality of reaching the Super Bowl represents a remarkable full-circle moment. The Orange County native was once consigned to the NFL's scrapheap of first-round draft busts after disappointing stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. Now, as the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, he stands just one victory away from clinching the NFL title against the New England Patriots.
"I grew up watching a ton of great football players and teams get to this moment and make great plays," Darnold reflected earlier this week. "I was always emulating those plays in my yard with friends. I always dreamed of moments like this."
The Rocky Road Through Multiple Franchises
Darnold's professional career began with promise when the New York Jets selected him third overall in the 2018 NFL draft. His gunslinging style at USC had drawn comparisons to legendary quarterback Brett Favre, and Jets fans had embraced the "Suck for Sam" rallying cry during the previous season.
However, his time in New York quickly turned sour. After a respectable rookie season under head coach Todd Bowles, the Jets brought in Adam Gase as offensive coordinator. Gase's rigid schemes and erratic play-calling exacerbated Darnold's mechanical issues, leading to disastrous statistical performances in 2020 when he posted the league's worst completion percentage.
The quarterback's struggles became fodder for internet memes, particularly a Monday Night Football graphic highlighting his 2019 absence due to mononucleosis that came to symbolize his disappointing tenure with the franchise.
Resurrection in San Francisco and Minnesota
After being traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021, Darnold showed slight improvement but eventually found himself benched in favor of Cam Newton and later Baker Mayfield. When Carolina released him in 2023 to make way for top draft pick Bryce Young, many believed his NFL career was over.
Instead, Darnold landed with the San Francisco 49ers on a modest one-year contract and immediately impressed during training camp competitions. Though he ultimately served as backup to Brock Purdy, his performance marked a significant turning point. "To have Kyle as a coach, to hear him talk about football during OTAs and training camp, when we had a ton of time with him as quarterbacks – I soaked in all of those moments," Darnold said of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. "He talked about football in a way I had really never heard before."
His resurgence continued with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023, where he posted career-best statistics including a 66% completion rate, 4,319 passing yards, and 35 touchdowns while leading the team to the playoffs. Though his postseason performance against the Los Angeles Rams raised questions about his big-game mentality, it set the stage for his eventual move to Seattle.
Seattle's Quarterback Solution
The Seahawks demonstrated remarkable faith in Darnold's abilities by signing him to a three-year contract worth $55 million guaranteed last March – a substantial investment that many skeptics questioned at the time. That faith has been rewarded as Darnold has confidently led Seattle to the top of the NFC and a Super Bowl appearance with nearly flawless play throughout the season.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye acknowledged Darnold's remarkable journey: "What a career he's had, just to battle the life of the NFL. He's battled not playing for years, and being the backup to getting his chance and just making the most of it. It's been awesome to see."
Maintaining Perspective Amid Success
During Super Bowl week, reporters from Darnold's previous NFL stops made a point of wishing him well on behalf of fanbases that had once considered him a disappointment. While he would be justified in using his success to highlight the failings of his former teams, Darnold has chosen to take the high road.
"Every experience is its own," he said, reflecting on the challenges that brought him to this point. "I knew I could do this at a high level, and that's what kept me going. I knew at some point an opportunity would arise."
As he prepares for the biggest game of his career, Sam Darnold's journey serves as a testament to perseverance in professional sports. From draft bust to Super Bowl quarterback, his story embodies the unpredictable nature of NFL careers and the power of second chances.
