Sam Darnold’s NFL journey has been anything but conventional. But on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium, the quarterback who once looked like a cautionary tale became a Super Bowl champion - and made history doing it.
With the Seattle Seahawks’ 29-13 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, Darnold became the first starting quarterback in league history to win a Super Bowl after playing for five or more teams. That’s not just a footnote - it’s a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the value of staying ready.
“It’s unbelievable,” Darnold told NBC Sports’ Melissa Stark on the field after the game. “Just everything that’s happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Let’s rewind. Darnold came into the league as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, selected by the New York Jets to be the face of their franchise.
But three up-and-down seasons in New York led to a trade to the Carolina Panthers in 2021. The flashes were there, but consistency wasn’t - and when his rookie contract expired, Darnold hit free agency with more questions than answers.
That’s when the San Francisco 49ers came calling in 2023. Darnold signed on as a backup and went to work, beating out Trey Lance in training camp to secure the No. 2 spot behind Brock Purdy.
He never became the starter in San Francisco, but his time there proved pivotal. The 49ers’ coaching staff, including head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, spoke highly of his preparation and leadership.
Those intangibles caught the eye of the Minnesota Vikings, who gave Darnold a one-year, $10 million opportunity to prove himself.
He didn’t waste it.
In Minnesota, Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 regular-season record. While the playoff run ended early with a first-round exit, his steady play and command of the offense turned heads across the league. That performance earned him a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seahawks - a move that raised eyebrows at the time, but now looks like a masterstroke.
Fast forward 11 months, and Darnold is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
“It's an unbelievable feeling, man,” he said. “I’m just so happy for the guys in the locker room, and the coaches, that put in so much effort throughout the whole season.”
Darnold didn’t just ride the wave in Seattle - he was the engine. The Seahawks matched Minnesota’s 14-3 regular-season record, and Darnold became just the second quarterback in NFL history to win 14 or more games in back-to-back seasons with different teams.
That kind of turnaround is rare. That kind of consistency, even rarer.
What stands out most is how Darnold rewrote the script on his own career. From a top pick labeled a bust, to a journeyman backup, to a Super Bowl-winning starter - it’s the kind of arc that doesn’t happen without belief. From himself, and from those around him.
“I think that’s it -- all my teammates, all my coaches I’ve ever had, always believing in me,” Darnold said. “I’ve always believed in myself because of my family and friends, so it’s as simple as that. As long as you believe in yourself, anything is possible.”
For Darnold, that belief led to a championship - and a place in NFL history.