Revealed: November 3, 2025
After the 2022 season, Sam Darnold appeared on his approach out of the league. Now, he’s an MVP candidate. The Seattle Seahawks QB is enjoying the most effective soccer of his life, proving that his 2024 breakout wasn’t only a fluke. He’s by some means gotten even higher, and he’s develop into not solely a possible MVP however a cautionary story for groups giving up on QBs too quickly.
Sam Darnold is a real celebrity
In 2022, the Carolina Panthers tried Sam Darnold as a part of their endless cycle of makes an attempt to exchange Cam Newton. That didn’t actually work, so the Panthers let Darnold, who had truthfully proven only a few indicators of being a franchise QB earlier than they traded for him, stroll in free company.
He was a high draft selection for the New York Jets in 2018, and he’d accomplished just about nothing since then to dwell as much as that billing. He appeared like a tried and true bust. The Panthers felt {that a} change of surroundings might unlock his potential. It didn’t, though it’s clear now that the try was not fully misguided.
Darnold would land with the San Francisco 49ers as a backup, and he performed decently effectively when filling in for an injured Brock Purdy. That, nonetheless, appeared extra as a result of enjoying in system with an offensive guru, Kyle Shanahan, calling the photographs. It did land him one other backup job with the Minnesota Vikings, although.
However when rookie JJ McCarthy went down with an harm, Darnold was compelled again into beginning motion, and he ran together with his alternative. He appeared like an MVP candidate at occasions, and he led the crew to 14 wins and the playoffs. Issues soured on the finish, however he had damaged out. That, nonetheless, was additionally attributed to his offensive coach.
Kevin O’Connell has gotten good QB play out of unhealthy gamers routinely. The yr prior, he bought each Nick Mullens and Josh Dobbs to play fairly effectively in spurts. It appeared as if he’d simply labored his magic on Darnold, however the Seahawks thought in any other case. They traded Geno Smith, paradoxically a former bust turned breakout star late in his profession identical to Darnold, away and signed Darnold to a three-year deal.
Questions endured. Every time Minnesota couldn’t shield Darnold, he struggled and reverted again to his previous habits. And the Seahawks had a notably porous offensive line. He additionally was going to a crew with a brand new offensive coordinator, which primarily meant his run of working with offensive gurus was over. Not having the ability to throw to Justin Jefferson was prone to damage, too.
However in reality, none of that mattered. Darnold has been otherworldly this yr. He’s sixth within the NFL in passing yards. He boasts the sixth-best completion share amongst QBs with 5 begins or extra this yr. He leads the NFL in yards per move. He’s second solely to future Corridor of Famer Lamar Jackson in QB Ranking. He’s fifth in QBR. He’s additionally bought 16 touchdowns and solely 5 interceptions. He has been completely unbelievable.
How did this occur? Properly, the NFL appears to grasp higher now that gamers who seem to be busts would possibly simply want a special system, coach, or one thing to vary. Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones, Bryce Younger, and Geno Smith had been all thought of horrible busts at one level, and so they’re all competent if not good QBs now. So clearly, Darnold at all times had the expertise.
It’s extremely probably, although, that working with Kyle Shanahan and Kevin O’Connell actually did assist flip him round. Clearly, he took what he realized and integrated it into his new partnership with Klint Kubiak, however that teaching helped unlock one thing that was apparently hidden deep under the floor. And it’s turned a former afterthought into a real MVP candidate.
