Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is headed to the Super Bowl after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 31-27, on Jan. 25 at Lumen Field in the NFC title game.
Darnold delivered one of the best performances of the postseason, completing twenty-five of thirty-six passes for three hundred forty-six yards and three touchdowns. The showing also reopened discussion about the Vikings’ decision to move on from Darnold last offseason.
On Nov. 30, 2024, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Minnesota did make an offer to Darnold that closely mirrored Seattle’s proposal. The key difference was the commitment length. The Vikings’ offer was limited to one year, similar to the deal the Seahawks ultimately authorized, which featured a pay-as-you-go structure.
At present, the only guaranteed money beyond the current season in Darnold’s contract is a $17.5 million injury guarantee that does not convert into a full guarantee until after Super Bowl LX.
Minnesota, meanwhile, had already identified J.J. McCarthy as the quarterback of the future. That reality was clear, and it likely factored into Darnold’s decision to pursue an opportunity in Seattle.
Nonetheless, FOX Sports’ Jason McIntyre gave a major warning to Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell.
“The 2018 NFL draft quarterback class was loaded. Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, is the first quarterback from that class to get to the Super Bowl,” McIntyre said in a Jan. 26 video from FOX Sports Radio. “That’s stunning. I mean, you could argue that this is a massive indictment of the Minnesota Vikings front office, and they were all on the clock for bailing on Darnold for J. J. McCarthy.”
Vikings’ Jonathan Greenard Posts Cryptic Tweets
After the Vikings opted to go with McCarthy, considering the team invested a first-round pick in the Michigan product. Nonetheless, on Jan. 25, Minnesota edge rusher Jonathan Greenard put out a pair of puzzling tweets once Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams to reach the Super Bowl.
Immediately after the game, Greenard posted a tweet showing just multiple dots, a simple yet telling reaction. He followed that up with another message asking, “What happened,” paired with a GIF. Both posts pointed toward his likely disappointment over Darnold’s exit from Minnesota last offseason.
Sam Darnold Talks Advancing to the Super Bowl
Moreover, Darnold spoke postgame about is performance against the Rams and his journey going from a potential bust after the situation with the New York Jets, to leading a team to a Super Bowl.
“It’s amazing to be able to do it with these guys in this locker room, with this coaching staff,” Darnold told FOX Sports postgame. “That’s why it means the world to me… I haven’t really thought about [his journey to the Super Bowl] much, to be honest, but I take it one day at a time. That’s it, one day at a time, every single day. Like I said, to be able to do it, it’s a special group, and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”
Vikings Get Major Warning After Sam Darnold Reaches Super Bowl