SANTA CLARA — In a remarkable turn of events, Sam Darnold, once a backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has transformed into a Super Bowl champion starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. Just two years ago, Darnold was learning under head coach Kyle Shanahan and supporting Brock Purdy. He spent countless games at Levi”s Stadium, hoping to revitalize a career that many had written off as a bust. After witnessing Purdy lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl, Darnold returned to the same stadium, this time as a champion, lifting the Lombardi Trophy following a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots.
“It”s unbelievable. Just everything that”s happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn”t want it any other way,” Darnold stated after the game. He completed 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown. “I”m so proud of our guys. Our defense, I mean I can”t say enough good things about our defense, our special teams. I know we won the Super Bowl, but we could”ve been a little better on offense, but I don”t care about that right now. It”s an unbelievable feeling.”
The surprising success of Darnold didn”t catch Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald off guard. “All he”s done since he walked in the door is be a tremendous player and a tremendous leader,” Macdonald commented following the championship win.
Darnold”s journey to this moment is one marked by challenges and setbacks. After being traded from the New York Jets, who selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft, he found himself in Carolina, then with the 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. His performance with the 49ers in 2023, including a start in the regular-season finale, helped him secure a contract with the Vikings. There, he showcased his talent with an impressive season, throwing for 35 touchdowns and over 4,300 passing yards.
Despite a challenging end to the season, including a wild-card loss where he was sacked multiple times, Darnold”s initial performance was enough to earn him a chance with the Seahawks. Seattle signed him last offseason to a lucrative contract worth $55 million guaranteed, trading Geno Smith to the Raiders as part of the move. Darnold, now 28, responded by throwing for more than 4,000 yards in the regular season and achieving a career-high 67.7 completion percentage, leading the Seahawks to a stellar 14-3 record.
In the playoffs, Darnold elevated his game further, throwing five touchdowns without any interceptions. He followed a stunning performance in the NFC Championship Game, where he completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns, with a solid outing in the Super Bowl, despite not reaching the same heights.
Receiver Cooper Kupp praised Darnold”s resilience: “I don”t know if there is a quarterback in NFL history that”s been through the things he”s had to go through in the first five years. To believe in himself, to overcome everyone telling him he wasn”t that guy anymore, that he couldn”t be a starter, that he couldn”t be a productive quarterback, to just come back to work and just commit to his process… it”s an unbelievable story. I am so glad I got to know the new Sam Darnold.”
