Sam Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets in 2018 and arrived in the league with hopes of becoming a franchise quarterback. When that didn’t materialize, his career turned into a coast-to-coast odyssey — stops in the Carolinas, San Francisco, Minnesota and now Seattle.
After a breakout year as Minnesota’s starter in 2024, the Vikings nevertheless let him walk in free agency, a decision that triggered several ripple effects around the league: Minnesota used the No. 10 pick on JJ McCarthy, the Seahawks moved Geno Smith to the Raiders, and Darnold landed in Seattle. Less than a year later, Seattle looks like it has come out ahead of that shuffle.
Now 28 and headed to his first Super Bowl, here are the key things to know about Darnold.
1) His NFC Championship performance was the best of his career.
The NFC title game was the biggest stage he’s played on, and he delivered his most complete game. He went 25-of-36 for 346 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and absorbed three sacks, producing 17.5 expected points — slightly better than Rams QB Matthew Stafford — and all three touchdown throws came while he was under pressure. In the closing minutes, after Seattle’s defense stopped the Rams in the red zone, Darnold orchestrated an 11-play, 49-yard drive that used up the final 4½ minutes and sealed a 31-27 victory. It was easily the best 60 minutes he’s had as a pro.
2) He’s had his share of infamous moments — and a memorable quote.
One game that followed him for years was a 2019 Monday night loss to the New England Patriots in which he threw four interceptions and lost a fumble. Mic’d up on the sideline afterward, he was heard saying the Patriots’ defense “sees ghosts,” a line that stuck in the public imagination. Much of Darnold’s early struggles in New York are now viewed in context of poor organizational support — questionable coaching hires, weak offensive lines and limited receiving help — though his tendency for occasional meltdown games hasn’t entirely disappeared (he had multi-interception outings against the Rams this season).
3) He’s cleaned up turnovers in the playoffs.
Through the current postseason Darnold has not committed a turnover. Per Next Gen Stats, he avoided turnovers despite facing 21 pressures across two playoff games — completing 7-of-16 for 117 yards and four touchdowns when under pressure (and taking five sacks). He’s looked steadier and tougher to beat late in games, though he’ll need to be careful against a Patriots defense that has forced turnovers from every postseason opponent so far.
4) His time in San Francisco and Minnesota altered his trajectory.
Darnold’s revival traces back to a backup role with the 49ers in 2023, where Kyle Shanahan’s system and coaching staff helped him refine his game. That stint raised his stock enough that Kevin O’Connell brought him to Minnesota, where he exploded in 2024 with 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, helping the Vikings reach the playoffs. San Francisco connections also mattered later: Clint Kubiak, who coached in San Francisco in 2023 and became Seattle’s offensive coordinator, played a role in Seattle’s interest. The 49ers’ investment in him as a backup ultimately helped push Darnold back onto a Super Bowl-caliber roster.
5) A surprising family fact: his grandfather was the Marlboro Man.
For a bit of trivia, Darnold’s grandfather, Dick Hammer, was one of the Marlboro Men and a multi-sport athlete — he played college basketball at USC (Darnold’s alma mater) and competed in Olympic volleyball.
Fan take: Darnold’s story matters because it’s a reminder that quarterback careers aren’t always linear — coaching, scheme and circumstance can revive a player’s fortunes. If he performs well in the Super Bowl, it could encourage teams to invest more in development and schematic fits rather than writing off quarterbacks after early struggles.
