Sam Darnold is close to a remarkable Super Bowl win, but he's made it clear that none of it is vindication for the years of doubters he's had to deal with.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, you could argue, is one game away from completing the ultimate comeback story.
Having been written off and labeled a bust after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. He was then a backup in San Francisco before moving to the Minnesota Vikings, and now Seattle.
After the narratives that had been surrounding Sam for years, most of which, based on his play, one could argue, were justified, in 2025, he has put them all to bed.
Yes, there are those who still want to see Darnold let it rip in the Super Bowl, but his two playoff wins have seen him play to the standard we know he can.
Now, just four quarters of football separate him from giving those who consistently doubted him a big slice of humble pie.
After all the years of people calling you a bust and stating you go into "pumpkin mode" in big games, Sam has a chance to shut them all up.
But in true Darnold fashion, when asked if him making and possibly winning the Super Bowl would be vindication against all of those who doubted him over the years, Sam played a straight bat.
“It doesn't really come down to that for me," Darnold said. “It's always just been about putting in the hard work every single day. Sometimes hard work and all the dedication and hours I've put in in the offseason during the season, that just leads to this moment.
"That's kind of the mindset I have and really the mindset I've had my entire career.”
And it is that mindset that has kept Darnold on the right path, to now, he's at a place in his career even the likes of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, and Dak Prescott haven't been to.
You could make the case has already silenced the doubters after his performances in the divisional round against the San Francisco 49ers and then in the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Yet some still "need" to see it one more time.
And if Darnold can come through and lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win, every narrative laid on him will be gone.
Even if he doesn't see it as vindication, most of the NFL will.