But he quickly learned that a quarterback’s environment is arguably the most critical factor in his development and long-term success.
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Despite his struggles and playing for his fifth team in eight seasons, Darnold, 28, finally has a chance to rewrite his narrative by helping the Seahawks win their second Super Bowl this Sunday against the Patriots.
“It’s always been about working hard, every day,” Darnold said this week. “The hard work and all the dedication and the hours that I put in in the offseason, during the season, led me to this moment. That’s the mentality that I have, and really the mentality that I’ve had my entire career.”
Darnold’s epic fall and now incredible rise over the past two seasons is storybook-ready.
The Jets selected Darnold with the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft at just 20 years old. But he never had organizational stability and a sufficient supporting cast during his three seasons with the Jets and was traded to the Panthers in 2021 after Robert Saleh became coach.
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In his three seasons with the Jets, Darnold posted a passer rating of 78.6, ranking 45th among 47 quarterbacks. He also won fewer games during his three seasons with the Jets (13) than he did in his lone season with the Vikings (14) last year and this year with the Seahawks (14).
Darnold was also in a very similar situation in Carolina. Their offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, was fired midway through the 2021 season. Then, Darnold coach Matt Rhule was fired in 2022 after five games. In 17 starts for the Panthers, Darnold threw for 3,670 yards with 16 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and a 77.3 passer rating.
But Darnold believes those early struggles helped him succeed now.
“I’m just learning how to eliminate bad plays, eliminate bad games,” Darnold said. “At the end of the day, it didn’t matter if I had a bad game, a bad reputation or a bad series of plays, I was always able to wake up the next day and keep going.
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“As a young player, early in my career, I was very hard on myself. After a bad rep or a bad practice, I would let that affect my attitude a little bit. Just being able to have a great attitude all the time, ‘OK, that happens, it’s football, we’re not always going to be perfect.'”
It wasn’t until Darnold signed a one-year deal with the 49ers in 2023 that he finally received the kind of support he needed. He started just one game in San Francisco, but Kyle Shanahan gave him an offense that aligned with his abilities rather than forcing him into a system. Shanahan also provided Darnold with a structured environment that included a solid offensive line, reliable playmakers and a supportive coaching staff, allowing him to build confidence, something that was missing with the Jets and Panthers.
Darnold remembers a quote he heard from Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice that has stuck with him.
“I’m paraphrasing, but he never had a perfect practice or a perfect game,” Darnold said. “That’s the mentality I’ve had after my first few years in the NFL. It’s not always going to be perfect.
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“That’s why everyone loves this game, and people consider it one of the best reality shows out there, because nothing is always perfect. Is it about how to overcome mistakes to continue to improve the team and improve yourself? That’s how I’ve had that mentality. I feel like I learned a lot from my early years with it.
“You’re never going to have a perfect day and once you really understand that, you’ll be able to go out and play freely.”
Darnold finally had a big season with the Vikings in 2024 after JJ McCarthy’s meniscus tear in training camp. He helped the Vikings to a 14-3 record, finishing with 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and a career-high 12 interceptions. But after a terrible playoff loss to the Rams in the NFC wild card round, Minnesota let Darnold go.
Just as he did in Minnesota, Darnold had something to prove in Seattle after signing a three-year, $100.5 million contract last offseason. Darnold not only helped the Seahawks defeat the 49ers and Rams to reach the Super Bowl, but he also did so while battling an oblique injury.
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Unlike his time with the Jets and Panthers, Darnold was efficient and committed no turnovers in both playoff victories. He even bested 2025 NFL MVP Matthew Stafford in the NFC Championship Game.
“Sam has been very resilient,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “I feel like I’m giving them a terrible answer, because I give them the same answer every time, but that’s really what he is. He’s so firm in his approach, he’s confident in who he is.
“He understands how much his team believes in him and has his back, so he just keeps shooting, man, keep being you, move on to the next play. He’s the same guy after having a perfect passer rating, he’s not parading around like he solved all the problems in the world, compared to a game where maybe we didn’t execute as well, so that’s what you appreciate about him.”
Darnold’s starting point is in the rearview mirror. No one knows how his career will end or if he will win Super Bowl LX. But Darnold’s story shows that having a successful environment is just as important as the quarterback himself.