Sam Darnold’s Redemption Arc and the Mistakes of NFL Teams

Sam Darnold’s journey has been one of perseverance, resilience, and eventual triumph. After a series of unfulfilling stints with four different NFL teams, the 28-year-old quarterback is finally on the cusp of reaching his potential. His performance in the NFC Championship Game, where he led the Seattle Seahawks to a thrilling 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, has solidified his place as a key player heading into the Super Bowl. The Seahawks will now face the New England Patriots in what promises to be an exciting matchup.

Darnold’s redemption arc is nearly complete, and even if he doesn’t lift the Lombardi Trophy, he has certainly made his doubters eat their words. Many of those same critics work in the front offices of NFL teams that passed on his services this past offseason. Let’s take a closer look at how some of these teams missed out on a chance to have Darnold on their roster.

Minnesota Vikings: A Missed Opportunity

The Minnesota Vikings were one of the most obvious teams to point to for their decision to let Darnold go. They witnessed his resurgence begin at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2024 and decided that his career-best numbers were just a fluke that ended in a playoff collapse. Instead of investing in his progress and rolling with him for another season, the Vikings opted to hand the reins to J.J. McCarthy, who was essentially a second-year rookie.

One year later, the Vikings posted five fewer wins than in 2024 and missed the postseason altogether after McCarthy only managed to play 10 games. While Darnold was looking for a more permanent home, the Vikings had the ability to offer a bridge deal and potentially trade him or McCarthy if Darnold took the team to the Super Bowl.

New York Giants: Missing Out on a Veteran Option

The New York Giants also missed out on a chance to bring in Darnold. They drafted Jaxson Dart but were always in the market for a veteran to start the year and hope for the best before the rookie’s eventual debut. Reports suggest that Darnold was on general manager Joe Schoen’s radar after the Giants missed out on Matthew Stafford. However, Schoen chose to ride with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the free agent market.

Wilson (six games played) and Winston (three games) were paid a combined $23.5 million by New York this year. Darnold only cost Seattle $14 million this season. He wouldn’t have had as talented a roster to work with, but the Giants’ strong defense could’ve used a guy like him producing more run support in what were close games.

Las Vegas Raiders: A Disappointing Offseason

The Las Vegas Raiders had their own issues with how they handled the offseason. The team’s decision to draft the first overall pick speaks volumes about their approach. After hiring head coach Pete Carroll, the Raiders supposedly planned to pitch a trade package to Minnesota for Darnold before he hit the market. The fact that no deal materialized is not only a knock on Las Vegas but also on Minnesota, who could’ve easily franchise-tagged Darnold and moved him for assets instead of getting nothing and watching him head to the Super Bowl.

Now the Raiders are going to get Fernando Mendoza after the Geno Smith experiment failed miserably. Mendoza is no guarantee, but Darnold’s improved play would’ve made them at least competitive in the AFC West for years to come.

Cleveland Browns: QB Limbo

Cleveland burned through three different passers this year, two of which were drafted in April. With Deshaun Watson burning a hole in the team’s roster and siphoning off crucial cash, that makes four QBs the team really doesn’t know what to do with. Rather than wasting a trade on Kenny Pickett (who was flipped to Las Vegas anyway), Cleveland should’ve made a run at Darnold to be their full-time guy. Watson is surely on the way out, Joe Flacco was serviceable but still a waste, and drafting two rookies that don’t appear like long-term solutions has the Browns in QB limbo.

Pittsburgh Steelers: A Missed Chance

The Pittsburgh Steelers landed future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, but that one-year rental didn’t pan out like fans had hoped. They made the playoffs but a Wild Card loss resulted in the likely end of Rodgers’ career and the departure of long-time head coach Mike Tomlin. Now the franchise will have to undergo a retool at best, which could take years to complete.

Bringing in Darnold would’ve paired him with wideout DK Metcalf among other adequate weapons and the league’s highest-paid defense. Darnold also only cost Seattle $350,000 more than Rodgers’ price tag for the Steelers. With better run support from a Darnold-led offense, Pittsburgh could’ve had a much different outcome in the postseason and who knows, maybe Tomlin wouldn’t have had to step down.

Conclusion

As the Seahawks prepare for the Super Bowl, it’s clear that Darnold has finally found his place in the NFL. His journey has been a testament to his determination and talent, and it’s a shame that some teams didn’t see the value in keeping him on their roster. As the final chapters of this story unfold, it’s hard not to wonder what could have been if these teams had made different decisions.