Sam Darnold is NFL’s most boring QB but has shamed Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen to win $3m Super Bowl prize

The New York Jets ghosted Sam Darnold and cursed him when he left the building.

The Minnesota Vikings watched Darnold win 14 games, then decided it was better to invest in a rookie who hadn’t played in a game.

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Jets missed badly on Super Bowl QB

Eight years after he was supposed to become the next big arm in New York, Darnold is the leader of the betting favorite in the biggest annual sporting event on the planet.

Darnold has also earned $3 million for reaching Super Bowl LX vs the New England Patriots.

Not bad for a 28-year-old quarterback who was on the verge of becoming a career backup — and was already viewed as an NFL Draft bust.

“Whether I look bad or not (for trading Darnold), I could give two shits about that,” former Jets general manager Joe Douglas told the MMQB.

“I know that he’s gonna have success. The timing didn’t really work out for him here. We couldn’t turn this around fast enough for him. And that’s not his fault. I root for good people, and that dude’s a good man, and he’s gonna do good things.”

The Jets look horrible for giving up on Darnold after just three seasons in a 2021 trade.

So do the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings.

Heck, who would the San Francisco 49ers rather have right now at QB — Brock Purdy on a massive $265 million contract or Darnold on a $100m deal?

Easy answer: The guy making $165m less who just received a ticket to Super Bowl LX in California after throwing for 346 yards, three touchdowns and a 127.8 passer rating in an NFC Championship thriller.

Russell Wilson celebrates Darnold’s success

“Sam Darnold’s comeback story over the past two years has been one of the most inspirational things to watch!” former Seattle Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson tweeted.

“Cool seeing him overcome!!! Congrats bro. Hope you win it! Go Hawks.”

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Darnold might be the most boring QB in the NFL, in the best possible way.

He earned the respect of his teammates in San Francisco and Minnesota, then evolved from a risk to a genius move for Seattle in one season.

Drama doesn’t shadow him and he rarely gets mentioned on ESPN, despite the fact that Darnold has won 28 games the last two years and ranked fifth in the NFL this season in passing yards (4,048) while Seattle finished first in the NFC.

But the California native and former USC star has now made the Super Bowl as a starting QB before fellow 2018 draft picks Baker Mayfield (No. 1 overall), Josh Allen (No. 7) and Lamar Jackson (No. 32).

Darnold also was part of Super Bowl LVIII during the 2023 season as a 49ers backup.

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“There’s no question Darnold developed some bad habits with his footwork (lazy/sloppy with his lower body at times) and ball security (dangling ball with one hand when moving in the pocket), but those issues are correctable,” read ESPN’s pre-draft analysis of Darnold.

“The bottom line is Darnold is the most complete quarterback in this class and he has the type of makeup that most good NFL starters possess.”

Darnold was doubted throughout the 2024 season, despite throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 TDs and a 102.5 rating and going 14-3 as a starter.

When Minnesota was blasted 27-9 by the Los Angeles Rams in a Wild Card defeat, it was supposed to be proof that Darnold wasn’t close to elite.

The Vikings chose the inexperienced and sometimes wobbly J.J. McCarthy over Darnold (and Aaron Rodgers), then watched Seattle go 14-3 with Minnesota’s old QB.

“You can’t talk about the game without talking about our quarterback,” said Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, after a 31-27 win over the Rams in the NFC Championship on Sunday.

“He shut a lot of people up tonight, so I’m happy for him.”

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Matthew Stafford potentially retiring was more viral than Darnold in the aftermath.

Drake Maye will be hotter in California the next two weeks.

Darnold is the best QB story the NFL has had in years — and the latest reminder of how wrong all the internet draft nerds, talking heads and writers so often are.

There was always a Super Bowl starting QB waiting within Darnold.

It just took the Jets, Panthers, 49ers and Vikings overlooking him — and a former No. 3 pick finally becoming what he was supposed to be.

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