Sam Darnold has risen from backup quarterback to Super Bowl champion in a remarkable turnaround, achieving victory with the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60. Just two years prior, he was learning the ropes under coach Kyle Shanahan while serving as a backup to Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers. At that time, Darnold was attempting to revitalize a career many considered a bust, often watching from the sidelines as Purdy led the 49ers to the championship game.
On Sunday night, Darnold returned to Levi”s Stadium, this time donning the Seahawks” blue and green uniforms, proudly lifting the Lombardi Trophy. “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 expressed after the game, completing 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards and a 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.”
This triumph was not entirely unexpected, according to Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who praised Darnold”s contributions since joining the team. “All he”s done since he walked in the door is be a tremendous player and a tremendous leader,” Macdonald stated following Seattle”s championship victory.
Darnold”s journey has been filled with challenges. After being selected third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, he was traded to Carolina three years later for a second-round pick and two sixth-round picks. After brief stints with the 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings, he signed a three-year deal with the Seahawks last spring. The last Super Bowl win by any team that had previously released Darnold was achieved by the 49ers after the 1994 season.
During the 2023 season, Darnold served as Purdy”s backup with the 49ers, showcasing his skills well enough to earn a starting role with the Vikings. He threw for 35 touchdowns and amassed over 4,300 passing yards, though his postseason debut saw him struggle against the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams.
Despite a difficult playoff start, the Seahawks recognized Darnold”s potential and signed him to a lucrative deal that included $55 million guaranteed, trading Geno Smith to the Raiders in the process. Darnold, now 28, repaid their trust with over 4,000 passing yards and a career-high completion percentage of 67.7 during the regular season, leading the Seahawks to a 14-3 record for the second consecutive year. His playoff performance was even more impressive, throwing five touchdowns without any interceptions.
Although his Super Bowl performance was less spectacular, it mattered little to Darnold, who made history as the first quarterback from USC to win the Lombardi Trophy as a starter. “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,” remarked Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp. “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 and then to go out there in the biggest moments this year over and over and over again and just show up, stand in the pocket and make the tough throws and manage the game, it”s an unbelievable story. I am so glad I got to know the new Sam Darnold.”
