Sam Darnold revived his career in Minnesota. A year later, he won the NFC Championship with Seattle—and Vikings fans felt it.
The Minnesota Vikings helped revitalize Sam Darnold's career in 2024. One year later, Darnold paid that off with a trip to the Super Bowl. For the Seattle Seahawks.
It's tough to be critical of Darnold as a Vikings fan. He hasn't said anything negative about Minnesota. Instead, he's let his play do the talking en route to a 14-3 season where the Seahawks hosted the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship, winning 31-27.
Darnold had his ups and downs throughout the season, with Seattle's defense carrying the team during his slumps. But Darnold was spectacular on Sunday night, completing 25-of-36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns.
The victory came 377 days after Darnold's final game as a member of the Vikings, a 27-9 drubbing to the Rams. Darnold looked lost, completing 25-of-40 passes for 245 yards but throwing an interception and taking nine sacks in the defeat.
For all the reasons that Minnesota was comfortable in allowing Darnold to leave for Seattle, the quarterback displayed all the poise that could have helped win playoff games following the 2024 season.
And maybe that's what hurts so bad. Many fans point to what could have been in 2025 had the Vikings kept Darnold. But Minnesota had a chance to secure the NFC's No. 1 seed in 2024.
In Week 18 against the Detroit Lions, with the NFC North and homefield advantage on the line, Darnold shrank. He was 18-of-41 passing for 166 yards in the 31-9 loss. Darnold missed open receivers in the endzone and seemed to undo all the goodwill that he spent all season building.
The loss to the Rams the following week confirmed what Detroit exposed—a player elevated to a level that wasn’t sustainable or repeatable.
Instead, the Seahawks not only helped Darnold repeat it, but they won two playoff games with him and will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX in two weeks. As of Sunday night, Seattle opened as a 4.5-point favorite, according to BetMGM.
The Vikings, of course, began the season 4-8 after a 26-0 loss to the Seahawks. Minnesota enters the offseason prepared to bring in a quarterback to push J.J. McCarthy for the starting job in 2026.
They may have to trade for someone like Mac Jones. Or perhaps they'll swing a blockbuster trade for Justin Herbert. Maybe they'll settle for a free agent who will at least give them a better backup plan than Max Brosmer.
Whatever the move, it will feel like one made a year too late. And the search for a viable quarterback will take place while Darnold, who was in their building in 2024, could be on a victory tour across America following his Super Bowl win.
It's hard being a Vikings fan. The Super Bowl will be just one more reminder of that.