Sam Darnold's Redemption

Samuel Richard Darnold (born June 5, 1997) is an American professional football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans and was selected third overall in the 2018 NFL draft by the New York Jets, where he spent his first three seasons. After injuries and inconsistent play, Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers, alternating as a starter and backup for two seasons, and spent one season as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers. Darnold had a breakout year in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings when he led them to the playoffs with a 14–3 record. He joined the Seahawks the following season, leading them to a victory in Super Bowl LX over the New England Patriots. He was considered a draft bust before signing with the Vikings and his turnaround to a Super Bowl–winning starting quarterback is regarded among the greatest comeback stories in NFL history.