Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold turned around his career after challenging stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. Following these two stints, Darnold became a backup with the San Francisco 49ers, which began his turnaround.
Once Darnold left the Bay Area, he went on to join the Minnesota Vikings and would become their starter after the injury to J.J. McCarthy.
Moreover, he would lead the Vikings to 14 wins while posting a passer rating of 102.5 with 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 17 games during the 2024 season, and was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl, per StatMuse.
After moving to Seattle and signing with the Seahawks long-term, Darnold proved that his 2024 season was no fluke. He posted a passer rating of 99.1 with 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in 17 games for the Seahawks this season, per StatMuse.
During a Jan. 30 appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Darnold reflected on his time in New York and Carolina and didn’t have any sour grapes toward the franchises.
“The days in New York, the days in Carolina, those are part of my journey, and they’re part of my experience,” Darnold told Dan Patrick. “I loved every single part of it. Yeah, there were some lows that sucked. I’m not going to lie to you. That’s part of it, though. I learned so much from that, and I’m able to move on.”
Seahawks’ Sam Darnold Has New Perspective
Moreover, Darnold talked about how he handled adversity during those two stints when things weren’t going right, as they did in Minnesota and Seattle, which has now given him a different perspective.
“It’s funny,” Darnold added. “After every single, after every single game we lost or things that didn’t go well, I was able to wake up the next day and see the sun rise and go into the building and see my teammates and have fun with my coaches. That’s a part of life. I think being able to realize that at this point in my career allows you to take it one day at a time and enjoy every single little moment that you get with your teammates.
“Because, as we all say, we’re never with the same team year in and year out. Yeah, you might be with some of the similar guys, especially if you stick with the same team. There are never all 70 that are the same throughout a season. You just try to enjoy it as much as you can.”
Joe Montana Praises Sam Darnold for Turnaround
As part of this Super Bowl run, Darnold is earning a lot of praise for turning his career around. During a Jan. 27 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” 49ers legend Joe Montana shared his thoughts on Darnold’s turnaround.
“I’m all for Sam Darnold,” Montana said. “The things that he’s been through, the places that he’s played, the games that he’s won, even here in San Francisco before he got to Minnesota. I mean, come on.
“I saw the stat the other day on Sunday. He’s won 28 games in the last two teams he was with, and he’s now getting another chance here, and he’s doing the same thing. And I’m pulling for him. I’m an NFC guy most of the time anyway, but I’m all about Sam. He’s a good guy, good player, and I’m happy for him.”
Seahawks’ Sam Darnold Doesn’t Hold Back on Jets, Panthers Stint