Eight years after he was tapped as the next big savior under center in New York, Sam Darnold is the unquestioned leader of the betting favorite in the biggest annual sporting event on the planet. He might just be the NFL’s most boring quarterback, but it turns out “boring” is exactly what wins football games. More importantly, it just shamed Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, punching Darnold a ticket to Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots—and padding his wallet with a cool $3 million bonus in the process.<\/p>\n
Not bad for a 28-year-old gunslinger who was on the brink of fading into a career backup role, widely written off as a draft bust. The New York Jets basically ghosted Darnold, cursing his name on his way out the door after just three seasons. Fast forward to today, and that 2021 trade looks historically awful for New York. But they aren’t the only ones kicking themselves.<\/p>\n
The Carolina Panthers gave up on him too. Then the Minnesota Vikings watched him rack up 14 wins, throw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns with a 102.5 rating in 2024, only to decide they’d rather roll the dice on an inexperienced and sometimes wobbly J.J. McCarthy. Minnesota’s brass pointed to a 27-9 Wild Card blowout by the Los Angeles Rams as proof Darnold wasn’t elite. So, Darnold packed his bags for Seattle on a three-year, $100 million deal, promptly marched the Seahawks to their own 14-3 record, and finished first in the NFC with 4,048 passing yards.<\/p>\n
Even former Jets GM Joe Douglas has to eat some crow, though he’s taking it in stride. Speaking to The MMQB, Douglas made it clear he doesn’t care if the trade makes him look bad. He knew Darnold was going to find success eventually; the timeline just didn’t align in New York. Douglas praised Darnold’s character, noting that the team’s inability to turn things around fast enough wasn’t the quarterback’s fault.<\/p>\n
He’s doing phenomenal things now. Just look at the San Francisco 49ers, where Darnold spent the 2023 season as a backup during their Super Bowl LVIII run. Who would the Niners rather have under center right now? Brock Purdy on a bloated $265 million contract, or Darnold on his $100 million deal? The answer is obvious. The guy making $165 million less just carved up the Rams in an NFC Championship thriller, throwing for 346 yards, three touchdowns, and a 127.8 passer rating to secure his spot in California.<\/p>\n
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald summed it up perfectly after that 31-27 revenge win, noting that you simply can’t talk about the game without talking about their quarterback.<\/p>\n
Over his eight NFL seasons, bouncing between five different franchises, the former No. 3 overall pick has quietly amassed 20,431 passing yards and 123 touchdowns with a 62.3 completion percentage, banking $105 million in career earnings along the way. Yet, the media cycle keeps ignoring him. In the aftermath of the NFC title game, Matthew Stafford’s potential retirement caught more viral traction. Next week, Drake Maye will undoubtedly pull more headlines in California. Drama simply refuses to follow Darnold.<\/p>\n
Instead, he just earns the respect of his locker rooms. Russell Wilson recently chimed in on X, calling Darnold’s two-year comeback one of the most inspirational things to watch in the league, adding a quick “Congrats bro. Hope you win it! Go Hawks.”<\/p>\n
Darnold’s rise is the ultimate middle finger to the internet draft nerds and talking heads. If you dig up ESPN’s 2018 pre-draft analysis, they knocked his footwork and ball security—specifically a bad habit of dangling the ball with one hand while moving in the pocket—but their bottom line rings remarkably true today: Darnold was the most complete quarterback in his class. Now, the kid who played wide receiver and linebacker in high school, who was heavily recruited by Steve Sarkisian to USC, has outpaced his peers. He made it to the Super Bowl as a starting QB before fellow 2018 draftees Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson.<\/p>\n
Speaking of that 2018 class, while Darnold is prepping for the Pats, former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield is currently trying to lock down his own future in Florida. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Mayfield are actively negotiating a contract extension to keep him off the open market.<\/p>\n
Mayfield recently opened up at his football camp in Oklahoma, making it clear he wants to stay in Tampa long-term, though he admitted there is still work to be done before ink meets paper. Going into the final season of his own 2024 three-year, $100 million deal, Mayfield’s $33.33 million annual salary puts him at 16th among QBs—a relative bargain considering a dozen guys are pulling in north of $50 million a year.<\/p>\n
For Mayfield, it’s about finding a middle ground both sides can stomach. He praised the Bucs’ front office for treating him right and putting him in a position to succeed on the field with the right resources, comparing the supportive environment to his college days in Oklahoma. He and his family have fallen in love with Tampa as a place to live and raise their kids. Both sides clearly want this done, but the business of football always dictates the pace.<\/p>\n
Whether you’re tuning in to see if Darnold can cap off his Cinderella story with a ring, or keeping tabs on where Mayfield and the rest of the league land, catching the action has never been easier. For those looking to follow the NFL, DAZN remains the ultimate hub with the NFL Game Pass. It’s the exclusive way to get unfiltered access to every single regular-season matchup of the 2025\/26 season and the playoffs—including the Super Bowl—live or on-demand. Add in NFL RedZone with Scott Hanson on Sundays, full game replays, and varied highlights, and you’re perfectly set up to watch these underdog storylines unfold.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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