Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates after defeating the New England Patriots in Tremendous Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs
Bear in mind when the Minnesota Vikings opted to not pay Sam Darnold throughout the offseason, preferring to let the chips fall with J.J. McCarthy? Darnold completely understands. Supply? Him.
Darnold has no situation with Minnesota’s quarterback choice, even after his profession surge with Seattle.
He spoke this week concerning the Vikings’ 2025 roster development, acknowledging even he understood “why they did what they did.”
Darnold Offers Minnesota’s QB Plan Some Grace
No arduous emotions.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold reacts throughout the Tremendous Bowl LX parade on Feb. 11, 2026, in Seattle, Washington. Darnold accomplished a career-revival season with the Seahawks in 2025 and helped information the franchise to a championship look after departing the Minnesota Vikings throughout the earlier offseason. Obligatory Credit score: Kevin Ng-Imagn Photographs
Darnold: I Get It
Darnold hopped on the San Clemente Podcast this week, unafraid to share his emotions on the Vikings’ offseason dealings 14 months in the past.
“I totally understand the move to go with a younger quarterback on a rookie deal, and signing these veteran players that you can maybe pay a little bit more while he’s on his rookie deal, especially if you believe in him. The business side of it, I totally understand it,” he instructed Clemente.
“I think JJ is a good player. I think he’s gonna be a really good player in this league. I truly believe that. For them to see that and be like, … the business part of it, it was like okay, like, I totally understand it.”
The Relaxation Is Now Historical past
In fact, Darnold can keep stuff like that as a result of — checks notes — his crew gained a Tremendous Bowl, and the Vikings didn’t. The truth is, Minnesota grew to become the butt of jokes between the NFC Championship and Tremendous Bowl — how on earth did decision-makers from the franchise let Darnold depart for nothing? That grew to become a typical question relating to the Vikings.
5 days after Darnold punched his ticket to the Tremendous Bowl, the Vikings fired normal supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the architect of the plan to let Darnold depart whereas protecting McCarthy as the only QB1 resolution in 2025. It was not stunning that Minnesota parted methods with Adofo-Mensah, however the time was odd. Why wait till 3.5 weeks after the common season to fireplace him? Most likely as a result of the scrutiny of Darnold’s success grew to become too loud and apparent to disregard.
Presently, Minnesota is conducting a large search to interchange Adofo-Mensah, reportedly narrowing its GM candidate subject to 5 earlier this week. Followers will hope the following one doesn’t make preposterous selections, equivalent to offloading Darnold, even when the thought felt accountable on the time. Always remember: Darnold performed like an fool throughout his final two video games with the Vikings.
The McCarthy Endorsement
It’s additionally value noting that Darnold believes in McCarthy. He’d even have each motive to dislike the man, booted from the Twin Cities as a result of Minnesota was too loyal to the 2024 1st-Spherical draft decide.
McCarthy skilled ups and downs final season, his first as a starter, battling a number of and relentless accidents, together with a excessive ankle sprain, concussion, and damaged hand. He confirmed flashes of maximum promise, particularly late in video games when the strain couldn’t be larger, but additionally displayed immature mechanics at odd occasions, like flailing his leg throughout his physique so as to add oomph to throws. Few quarterbacks try this, and few final lengthy within the NFL utilizing such unorthodox motions.
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Sam Darnold heat up throughout coaching camp apply on Aug. 2, 2024, in Eagan, Minnesota. The Vikings entered the 2024 season balancing Darnold’s veteran presence with McCarthy’s long-term growth after choosing the Michigan quarterback within the first spherical of the NFL Draft. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs
Nonetheless, McCarthy will likely be concerned within the Vikings’ upcoming coaching camp quarterback battle. Minnesota signed Kyler Murray from free company in March, and although most count on him to win the QB1 job title, there’s a small likelihood that McCarthy scores the upset.
Darnold appears to imagine that’s attainable.
Darnold’s 2025 Efficiency
The ex-Vikings signal-caller checked in because the NFL’s ninth-best quarterback final 12 months per EPA+CPOE. Darnold was additionally propped up by a incredible begin to the 2025 marketing campaign, and when he slowed down — floundered, even — in November, December, and January, no person seen as a result of the Seahawks’ protection had morphed right into a juggernaut.
Right here’s an instance of the numbers:
Sam Darnold,NFL Rating,Per EPA+CPOE in 2025:
Week 1-10: 1stWeek 11-18: twenty second
Seattle’s protection ranked as the highest canine within the NFL per EPA/Play. Darnold didn’t battle within the playoffs, however in comparison with previous postseason quarterback performances, he largely did sufficient “not to screw up,” propelling the Seahawks to the Lombardi Trophy.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold stands earlier than the Tremendous Bowl LX trophy presentation on Feb. 11, 2026, at Lumen Area in Seattle, Washington. Darnold reached the championship stage after revitalizing his profession in Seattle, capping one of many NFL’s most stunning quarterback turnarounds throughout the 2025 marketing campaign. Obligatory Credit score: Steven Bisig-Imagn Photographs
Darnold will flip 29 subsequent month. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah stated this week about his subsequent contract, “I think Darnold can get into that $50 million range. And I think that could still — at the time that he does it a year from now — could be cutting the team a discount with where the numbers are going.”
“It just feels like every year when you get these quarterback numbers, and everybody freaks out, you just have to remind everybody that this league is not making any less money. Like, this cap is going to continue to go up, and these quarterback numbers are going to continue to go up. We’re going to have $100 million quarterback in AAV before it’s all said and done.”
The Vikings will play the Seahawks once more in 2027 at U.S. Financial institution Stadium.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
