Why Jets Fans Shouldn’t Be Ashamed to Root for Sam Darnold
Let’s be honest-being a New York Jets fan hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park over the past decade. The quarterback carousel has spun fast and furious, and more often than not, it’s flung fans straight into heartbreak.
So when a former top draft pick-one who didn’t pan out in green and white-starts finding success elsewhere, it's natural to feel a mix of emotions. But in Sam Darnold's case?
It's more than okay to root for him. In fact, it makes a lot of sense.
Back in 2018, the Jets used the third overall pick to draft Darnold, a big-armed, athletic quarterback out of USC. He was supposed to be the answer.
And for a moment, it felt like he might be. But the promise quickly gave way to a tough reality.
Whether it was a revolving door of offensive coordinators, a lack of talent around him, or the infamous “seeing ghosts” game in Foxborough, Darnold’s tenure in New York never got off the ground.
The result? A failed stint that ended with him being traded away.
But that wasn’t the end of the road for Darnold-it was just the start of a winding journey that’s taken him through Carolina, San Francisco, Minnesota, and now, Seattle. And here’s the twist: he’s one win away from the Super Bowl.
And no, that’s not a misprint.
A Comeback You Can Respect
It’s easy to look at Darnold’s resurgence and feel a little bitter. He was supposed to be our guy.
The one to finally stabilize the quarterback position. The one to lift the Jets out of the darkness.
And now he’s doing it somewhere else, for someone else. But if you take a step back, it’s hard not to appreciate the road he’s traveled-and the way he’s handled every bump along the way.
When Darnold came to New York, he was just 21 years old. His first NFL pass?
A pick-six on Monday Night Football. But he bounced back in that same game and led the Jets to a blowout win in Detroit.
That moment-early adversity followed by a strong response-was a preview of the kind of resilience that’s defined his career.
And let’s not forget the context here. The Jets haven’t exactly been a quarterback haven.
Outside of Joe Namath, the list of signal-callers who’ve found long-term success in New York is... well, nonexistent. From Brett Favre’s one-year cameo to Chad Pennington’s injury-plagued run, to Mark Sanchez’s flash-in-the-pan playoff appearances, the Jets have seen more false starts than a preseason scrimmage.
Darnold’s struggles weren’t unique-they were part of a pattern.
But what was unique was the way he carried himself through it all.
A Class Act From Day One
Say what you want about Darnold’s play on the field during his Jets years-there were ups and downs, no doubt-but off the field? He was everything you’d want in a franchise quarterback.
A leader in the locker room. A guy who always put the team first.
Someone who never pointed fingers, even when he had every right to.
And that’s not just revisionist history. Since leaving New York, Darnold has had every opportunity to take a shot at the Jets organization.
He could’ve aired grievances about the lack of support, the coaching turnover, the flawed roster construction. But he hasn’t.
Not once. Every interview, every quote-he’s remained respectful, even complimentary.
That kind of maturity? It’s rare.
Especially in a league where former players often settle scores with the franchises that failed them.
Compare that to some of the other quarterbacks who’ve come through Florham Park. Christian Hackenberg openly questioned the coaching he received.
Zach Wilson’s tenure was marred by poor play and even worse optics. And Aaron Rodgers, well, let’s just say he hasn’t always taken the high road when it comes to his former teams.
But Darnold? He’s never taken the bait.
A Second Act Worth Cheering For
Let’s be real-most quarterbacks who flame out in New York don’t get a second chance, let alone a third or fourth. Mark Sanchez never found another starting job.
Geno Smith had to wait nearly a decade for his shot. Zach Wilson may never get one.
But Darnold has defied the odds. He’s found a system that works, a coaching staff that believes in him, and a team that’s one game away from the sport’s biggest stage.
It’s a rare kind of redemption arc, and it’s hard not to root for it. Especially when the guy at the center of it has handled everything with such quiet professionalism.
Sure, it stings a little. Of course it does.
Jets fans have been waiting for a quarterback to take them to the promised land for decades. Watching a former top pick do it somewhere else is like watching your ex thrive while you’re still trying to get your life together.
But that doesn’t mean you have to root against him.
If anything, Darnold’s success is proof that maybe, just maybe, the problem wasn’t entirely him. Maybe he just needed a stable environment.
A little time. A little patience.
Things the Jets, for all their good intentions, couldn’t quite offer at the time.
So Go Ahead-Root for Sam
This weekend, when Darnold takes the field against the Rams with a Super Bowl berth on the line, it’s okay to be in his corner. It’s okay to feel proud.
You watched him grow up in this league. You saw the flashes of brilliance, the grit, the toughness.
You saw the promise-and now, you’re seeing the payoff.
As a Jets fan, you’ve earned the right to feel a little football joy wherever you can find it. And if that joy comes from watching Sam Darnold finally realize his potential, even if it’s in a different uniform, that’s more than fair.
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about football. It’s about perseverance.
It’s about character. It’s about a guy who never quit, never complained, and never stopped working.
And if that’s not worth cheering for, what is?