USC’s Quarterback Legacy Takes Center Stage in NFC Playoff Push
The road to the Super Bowl is winding through Southern California - at least in spirit. Two of the four quarterbacks still standing in the NFC playoffs are USC alums: Caleb Williams and Sam Darnold. And if things fall into place this weekend, we could be looking at a Trojans showdown in the NFC Championship Game - a matchup that would guarantee one of them makes history.
Here’s the kicker: A USC quarterback has never started in a Super Bowl. That’s right - not Carson Palmer, not Matt Leinart, not Mark Sanchez. But that streak could finally come to an end in just a few weeks.
Caleb Williams: Changing the Culture in Chicago
Caleb Williams isn’t just playing quarterback for the Chicago Bears - he’s flipping the narrative. In just his second year, Williams has already etched his name into the Bears’ record books for single-season production. He didn’t hit the 4,000-yard mark, but make no mistake - it was a season that redefined expectations in Chicago.
And perhaps nothing mattered more to Bears fans than what he did against Green Bay. Twice this season, Williams led the Bears past their bitter rivals - something no Chicago quarterback had done multiple times in a season since John Harbaugh. That’s not just winning games; that’s winning hearts.
But this leap didn’t happen in a vacuum. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been a revelation, pairing his creative play-calling with Williams' dynamic skill set.
Together, they’ve taken a team that many pegged for 9 or 10 wins and turned it into a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They didn’t just aim to be competitive in Year 1 - they aimed to win.
And so far, they’re delivering.
Momentum Is Real - and Chicago Has It
Beating the Packers was more than just a playoff win - it felt like an exorcism. That rivalry has haunted the Bears for decades, and now it feels like the tide is turning. With that weight lifted, the Bears are playing free, confident football at just the right time.
They’re heading into another home game with belief - not just in their quarterback, but in their identity. This team has the kind of edge that makes them dangerous in January.
They’re not the favorites, but they don’t need to be. And if they can knock off the Rams this weekend, the road to the Super Bowl might just run through Caleb Williams.
Sam Darnold and the Seahawks: Peaking at the Right Time
On the other side of the NFC bracket, Sam Darnold is quietly putting together one of the most compelling comeback stories of the postseason. After bouncing around the league, the former USC star has found a rhythm in Seattle - and the timing couldn’t be better.
The Seahawks are staring down a banged-up 49ers team this week. And while San Francisco is still loaded with talent and led by one of the league’s top coaching staffs, the injuries are piling up. Seattle, meanwhile, has already beaten the Niners once this season - and it wasn’t close.
Darnold doesn’t need to be perfect - he just needs to be efficient, decisive, and steady. If he can do that, the Seahawks have every reason to believe they can punch their ticket to the NFC title game.
Trojan Bowl on the Horizon?
We’re still one round away from it becoming reality, but the possibility is tantalizing: Caleb Williams vs. Sam Darnold, USC vs.
USC, with a Super Bowl berth on the line. It would be a first for the Trojans - and a long-overdue moment for a program that’s produced so much NFL talent under center.
Even if only one makes it through, history is within reach. A USC quarterback starting in the Super Bowl would be a milestone decades in the making. And if both guys keep playing the way they’ve been playing, there’s a real chance that milestone becomes a headline in just a few weeks.
One thing’s for sure - the Trojan legacy is alive and well in the NFL playoffs.