Sam Darnold is making headlines as he prepares to start in the Super Bowl. It’s quite a journey for someone who once struggled to find his footing in the NFL. After moving through five teams in eight seasons, Darnold has risen to lead the Seattle Seahawks to an impressive 14-3 record, clinching a division title and the No. 1 seed.
In the NFC Championship game, despite battling an oblique injury, Darnold had a standout performance, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns in a thrilling 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He completed 25 of 36 attempts without any turnovers. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald expressed his pride, noting, “He just shut a lot of people up.”
Initially picked third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 draft, Darnold was overshadowed by other quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson. Mayfield, drafted first, has had his share of highs and lows with several teams, while Jackson won two AP NFL MVP awards but faced struggles in the playoffs. On the other hand, Darnold faced early criticism, labeled a “bust” due to his rocky start in New York.
A major shift came when he joined the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. Under coach Kyle Shanahan, he had a chance to absorb valuable lessons and improve his game. Shanahan praised Darnold’s arm strength and understanding of defenses. This growth carried over to his time with the Minnesota Vikings, where he had a breakout season in 2024, leading the team with 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Interestingly, his success doesn’t diminish the struggles of his peers. Darnold’s story is about resilience and the significance of coaching. During his early years with the Jets, he faced challenging circumstances with multiple coaching changes, contributing to his lackluster performance.
User reactions on social media highlight a shift in perception. Fans are rallying behind Darnold, celebrating his comeback. Tweets and posts reflect a newfound appreciation for his journey, with many comparing his resilience to that of Tom Brady, who also experienced ups and downs before achieving greatness.
Darnold has embraced the challenges he faced, stating, “There was a lot that I didn’t know back then… I’m always looking to improve.” This growth mindset resonates well with fans and analysts alike.
As the Super Bowl approaches, the Seahawks are favored against the New England Patriots, with Darnold poised to make history. He aims to become the first quarterback to lead two different teams to 14 wins in consecutive seasons—a feat only Tom Brady has matched with the Patriots.
For more details on the latest NFL updates, you can follow AP NFL.
In summary, Darnold’s journey underlines the importance of perseverance, strong leadership, and the impact of a supportive coaching environment in sports.
Source link
Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Football, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Kyle Shanahan, Seattle Redhawks, Seattle Seahawks, On Football, Send to Apple News, Massachusetts, Washington, NFL, WA State Wire, Los Angeles Rams, Matt Rhule, Sports, Kevin OConnell, Jeff Nixon, NFL football, Tom Brady, Steve Wilks, Todd Bowles, Jeremy Bates, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, J.J. McCarthy, Adam Gase, Mike Macdonald, Ben McAdoo, Brock Purdy, Joe Brady, Geno Smith
