For Justin Jefferson, this Super Bowl week isn’t just about watching the big game - it’s about what could’ve been.
As the Seattle Seahawks gear up for Super Bowl 60, led by none other than Sam Darnold, Jefferson can’t help but reflect on how different things might look if Darnold were still wearing purple and gold. The Vikings' star wideout didn’t mince words when asked if Minnesota might be in Seattle’s shoes had Darnold stayed put: “Yeah, for sure, definitely.”
That’s not just wistful thinking - it’s rooted in a season that felt like a step backward for the Vikings after a promising 2024 campaign. With Darnold under center, Minnesota went 14-3 last year and looked every bit like a contender.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Vikings were juggling a quarterback carousel that included rookie J.J. McCarthy, veteran Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer.
The result? A 9-8 finish and an early exit from playoff contention.
Meanwhile, Darnold is preparing for the biggest game of his life.
“Everyone knows the difficulty of the quarterback position this year, how we were dealt it,” Jefferson said. And he’s not wrong.
Minnesota’s offense lacked the rhythm and continuity it had with Darnold at the helm. Jefferson pointed to the value of familiarity - a quarterback who already knew the playbook, the system, and the personnel.
“Throwing to me, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, all these guys - I definitely feel like we would have done better,” he added.
“But it is what it is. It’s on to newer and better things.”
Still, the pride in seeing Darnold succeed hasn’t been lost on Jefferson. Even as he watches from home, there’s a genuine appreciation for the journey Darnold has taken - from early struggles with the Jets to a career resurgence that’s now landed him on football’s biggest stage.
Jefferson’s own 2025 season mirrored the team’s inconsistency. After posting 1,533 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024, his numbers dipped to 1,048 yards and just two touchdowns this year.
But he’s not pointing fingers. Instead, he’s embracing the long view, especially when it comes to McCarthy’s development.
“Obviously, during this offseason we’ll work more to get to where we would like to go,” Jefferson said. “It’s building blocks to it. It don’t just happen overnight.”
That’s the kind of leadership you want from your WR1 - honest about the setbacks, but focused on the process.
As for Darnold, his redemption arc is one of the most compelling storylines of this postseason. Drafted No. 3 overall back in 2018, he struggled to find his footing early in New York.
But in the last two seasons, he’s flipped the narrative entirely. After leading the Vikings to 14 wins in 2024, he did it again with Seattle in 2025 - throwing for over 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns, and guiding the Seahawks to their first 14-win regular season in franchise history.
That kind of back-to-back success puts Darnold in rare air. Only Tom Brady had previously led two different teams to at least 14 wins in consecutive seasons.
For Jefferson, it’s a mix of admiration and frustration - proud to see Darnold earn the respect he long deserved, but still feeling the sting of watching it happen elsewhere.
“It’s tough to watch,” Jefferson said. “I love that he’s in the Super Bowl.
I’m happy for him. I want nothing but the best for him, especially the way his journey was at first - people doubting him, not giving him the respect.
Now they’re giving him the respect. Now they’re seeing that he’s a top-tier quarterback in this league.”
And yes, he’s rooting for Seattle. “I hope he wins.
I think Seattle’s gonna win. I’ll be rooting for him.”
Back in Minnesota, the offseason is already bringing change. The Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Friday, signaling that more moves could be on the horizon as the team looks to regroup and retool.
For now, Justin Jefferson is watching the Super Bowl like the rest of us - with a vested interest, a sense of pride, and a lingering question: what if?