Sam Darnold’s Redemption Arc Hits Its Peak - Just Not in Minnesota
It’s been a long road for Sam Darnold - five teams, eight seasons, and more than his fair share of doubters. But now, with a Super Bowl start on the horizon, the former No. 3 overall pick is finally delivering on the promise that once made him the face of a franchise.
The only catch? He’s doing it in Seattle, not Minnesota - and that’s a tough pill to swallow for Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Speaking to reporters this week, Adofo-Mensah didn’t shy away from the elephant in the room: letting Darnold walk in free agency. While he didn’t outright call it a mistake, he acknowledged the kind of second-guessing that keeps decision-makers up at night.
“You're trying to make sure you don't lock yourself into what you did and thinking that it's always right,” Adofo-Mensah said. “So there are nights you wake up and stare at the ceiling and ask yourself…”
It’s a rare moment of transparency from a front office executive, and one that reflects just how complicated quarterback decisions can be in today’s NFL. At the time, Minnesota chose to bet on youth, handing the reins to then-23-year-old JJ McCarthy after a solid but unspectacular rookie campaign. Darnold, meanwhile, was coming off a career year in Minnesota, stepping in for an injured McCarthy and thriving in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
But instead of doubling down on the veteran who led them to 14 wins, the Vikings let Darnold walk. The Seahawks didn’t hesitate. They handed him a three-year, $100.5 million deal to replace Geno Smith - and Darnold responded by making history.
A Career Year in Seattle
Darnold didn’t just manage the Seahawks offense - he elevated it. Seattle went 14-3, clinched the NFC’s top seed, and powered through the postseason behind a quarterback who looked nothing like the player once labeled a bust.
In the NFC Championship Game, with a Super Bowl berth on the line and playing through an oblique injury, Darnold delivered one of the best performances of his career. He threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-36 passing, with zero turnovers, in a 31-27 win over the Rams.
“He just shut a lot of people up,” said Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald. “Really happy for him.”
The win capped a remarkable stretch for Darnold, who became the first quarterback in NFL history to lead two different teams to 14-win seasons in back-to-back years. The only other QB to do it with one team? Tom Brady.
A Believer in the Building
Darnold’s resurgence hasn’t just been about numbers. It’s about belief - belief from teammates, coaches, and a city that’s fully embraced him.
“We believe in him. The building believes in him.
The city believes in him,” said All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. “It’s awesome to run out onto the field with him.”
That kind of confidence wasn’t always there. Back in 2019, Darnold’s infamous “seeing ghosts” comment during a rough night against the Patriots became a punchline. Now, it’s part of a larger story - one of growth, perseverance, and a quarterback who never stopped trying to get better.
“There was a lot that I didn’t know back then,” Darnold said this week. “I’m just going to continue to learn and grow in this great game… There’s always ways that you can look to get better.”
Back in Minnesota: What Could’ve Been
For Vikings fans, it’s hard not to wonder what might’ve been. McCarthy showed flashes in 2025 but ultimately led Minnesota to a 9-8 finish despite having one of the league’s top defenses. That left many questioning the decision to let Darnold - a proven fit in O’Connell’s scheme - leave for nothing.
Adofo-Mensah, to his credit, didn’t deflect. He stood by the process, even if the results didn’t align.
“I still understand why we did what we did,” he said. “The results maybe didn’t play out the way we wanted them to, but ultimately, I think at the end of the day we could have executed in certain places.”
That kind of accountability is rare, and fans noticed. Still, it doesn’t erase the sting of watching Darnold thrive elsewhere.
The Bigger Picture
Darnold’s rise is one of the most compelling stories of the NFL season. He’s outlasted and, for now, outshined his 2018 draft classmates - Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Baker Mayfield - by becoming the first of the group to start a Super Bowl. It’s a testament to resilience, fit, and the reality that sometimes quarterbacks just need the right situation to flourish.
For the Seahawks, it’s a dream scenario. For the Vikings, it’s a painful reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in this league.
And for Sam Darnold? It’s the payoff of years of hard lessons, quiet work, and a belief that his best football was still ahead of him. Turns out, he was right.