In his debut season with the Minnesota Vikings, Sam Darnold, who previously backed up Brock Purdy for the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers, was originally drafted third overall by the New York Jets in 2018 after playing at Southern California. Darnold is notably the last rookie quarterback to win a Week 1 start, but the Jets finished that season 4-12 and traded him three years later to the Carolina Panthers. Over 56 career starts, he has thrown 55 interceptions and holds a 21-35 record.
Despite regaining a starting role with the Vikings, Darnold was brought in on a one-year, $10 million deal as a temporary option to fill the gap between Kirk Cousins’ departure and rookie J.J. McCarthy’s future with the team. Darnold’s current position is largely due to McCarthy’s season-ending knee injury.
“As a young player, it’s easy to think about what the future holds, but you’ve got to stay present,” Darnold reflected. “This position is tough enough without getting distracted.”
Darnold’s arm strength has long been a highlight, and the Vikings have been impressed by how quickly he’s learned head coach Kevin O’Connell’s complex offense. Voted one of eight captains for the season, his leadership is recognized by his teammates.
Running back Aaron Jones praised him: “He’s a true leader, and I believe in him. He’s going to prove a lot of people wrong this season. People are sleeping on him, but he’ll show his true ability. Comeback Player of the Year favorite, for sure.”
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