Vikings, Darnold, and the Price of Hindsight: Breaking Down the Quarterback What-Ifs
Now that Sam Darnold has helped lead the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title, the Minnesota Vikings are once again in the crosshairs of national criticism - and this time, it’s coming loud and clear from one of the biggest voices in sports media. On First Take, Stephen A.
Smith didn’t hold back, calling the Vikings’ decision to move on from Darnold in favor of rookie J.J. McCarthy one of the biggest regrets of the 2025 season.
Let’s unpack that - not from a hot-take standpoint, but from a football perspective.
The Vikings’ Quarterback Gamble
Minnesota’s decision to let Darnold walk in free agency and hand the keys to McCarthy was always going to be a bold one. They had just gone 14-2 with Darnold under center before a rough playoff exit at the hands of the Rams.
That game - which saw the Vikings give up nine sacks - exposed protection issues more than quarterback play. Still, the optics weren’t great, and the team opted to pivot.
McCarthy, who missed his rookie season with a meniscus injury, entered 2025 as essentially a first-year player. The Vikings bet on his upside and the flexibility that comes with a quarterback on a rookie deal. That approach isn’t new - it’s the same model teams like the Eagles and Bengals have used to build around young QBs before their big paydays hit the books.
But when you’ve got an All-Pro receiver in Justin Jefferson, a legit WR2 in Jordan Addison, and one of the top tight ends in the game in T.J. Hockenson, the margin for error shrinks.
This wasn’t a roster in rebuild mode. It was a team that believed it could contend - and needed its quarterback to catch up quickly.
Stephen A. Smith’s 180
Fast forward to February 2026, and Darnold is a Super Bowl champion. That’s all the fuel needed for the narrative machine to start humming. On First Take, Smith lit into the Vikings, questioning why they would “throw away a football season” by letting Darnold go and trusting an unproven McCarthy.
But here’s where things get tricky. Just over a year ago, following the Vikings’ playoff loss, Smith was asked if he’d bring Darnold back.
His response? “Sure,” but not at $40 million per year.
He emphasized cost and questioned how much of a difference Darnold really made. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement.
The Vikings reportedly made Darnold an offer, but he ultimately signed a three-year, $100 million deal with Seattle. His cap hit was manageable in Year 1, but it’s set to rise - and that’s the exact scenario Minnesota was trying to avoid after years of salary cap gymnastics with Kirk Cousins.
The front office wanted to reset the financial structure and build around a cost-controlled quarterback. That’s not mismanagement - it’s a calculated risk.
The Risk-Reward Equation
So, did the Vikings make a mistake? It depends on how you define one.
If your standard is “not winning the Super Bowl,” then sure, they fell short. But they were never a lock to win it all with Darnold either.
That 14-2 regular season was impressive, no doubt. But the offensive line couldn’t hold up in the postseason, and Darnold struggled under pressure.
That’s not all on him - but it’s part of the equation.
If the Vikings had kept Darnold and flamed out again, the criticism would’ve likely flipped: “Why didn’t they take advantage of McCarthy’s rookie deal and build a deeper roster?” That’s the double-edged sword of quarterback decisions in today’s NFL. Whatever path you take, the results better follow - or the second-guessing will come fast and loud.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t about whether Stephen A. Smith changed his mind.
People are allowed to evolve their opinions based on new information. The real issue is the tendency to rewrite the past based on present outcomes.
The Vikings didn’t bail on a franchise quarterback. They made a forward-looking decision that aligned with their cap goals and long-term vision.
It hasn’t paid off yet - but that doesn’t mean it was the wrong move at the time.
Darnold’s resurgence in Seattle is one of the best stories of the season. He found the right system, the right coaching staff, and a team that protected him when it mattered most.
He earned that ring. But let’s not pretend Minnesota gave up on a sure thing.
They made a bet - and like any bet in the NFL, it came with risk.
The Vikings are now in a pivotal offseason. McCarthy has a year of experience under his belt.
The roster still boasts elite talent at the skill positions. Whether the gamble pays off in 2026 and beyond will depend on how quickly McCarthy develops and whether the front office continues to build smartly around him.
But for now, let’s call it what it is: a high-stakes decision that didn’t work out - yet. And in today’s NFL, that’s more common than not.