If you're a USC fan still waiting to see one of your own hoist a Lombardi Trophy, this year might feel like a strange twist of fate. Sam Darnold, the former Trojan quarterback, is headed to the Super Bowl - but he's doing it in a Seattle Seahawks uniform, the same team that just knocked the Rams out of the NFC title game. For fans in Southern California, it’s a bit of a football paradox: root for the hometown hero, or hold the line for the division rival?
But the Darnold storyline doesn’t stop at NFC West rivalry drama. There's another layer to this - one that stretches all the way to Minnesota and may have cost a general manager his job.
That GM? Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, now formerly of the Minnesota Vikings.
Here’s the backdrop: Last offseason, the Vikings were staring down a critical quarterback decision. They had Sam Darnold in-house, a player with starting experience and flashes of real talent.
But they also had a shot at drafting JJ McCarthy, a highly touted prospect and one of the top quarterbacks in the draft class. The Vikings chose the rookie, letting Darnold walk.
Seattle scooped him up, and the rest, well, is playing out in front of our eyes.
Now, Darnold is preparing for the biggest game of his career, leading a Seahawks team that’s peaking at just the right time. Meanwhile, Minnesota is back to the drawing board - and Adofo-Mensah is out after four seasons as GM.
It’s one of those classic NFL “what if” moments. What if Minnesota had stuck with Darnold?
What if they had leaned on the known commodity instead of betting on the rookie curve? McCarthy may still develop into a solid starter, but Darnold has already delivered - to the tune of over 4,300 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and 14 wins this season.
That’s not potential. That’s production.
And that’s the rub. In a league where rookie deals can be goldmines if you hit on the right quarterback, the Vikings made a calculated gamble.
But when the quarterback you let go is now playing in the Super Bowl - and thriving - it’s hard not to second-guess the decision. Especially when that decision might be the defining one of your tenure.
For Darnold, it’s been a redemption arc. From his early struggles in New York, to bouncing around the league, to now leading a Super Bowl-caliber team - it’s the kind of journey that reminds us how unpredictable quarterback development can be.
Talent, fit, coaching, system - it all matters. And in Seattle, it looks like Darnold finally found the right combination.
For USC fans, it’s a moment of pride with a twist of rivalry tension. For the Vikings, it’s a harsh reminder of how quickly the NFL can turn on a single decision. And for Adofo-Mensah, it’s a case of the road not taken - one that might have led to a very different ending.