From discarded prospect to unlikely starter
Sam Darnold’s NFL journey has been defined by second chances. Drafted third overall in 2018, he cycled through four teams in eight seasons, traded, released, or relegated to backup roles along the way. Each move reinforced the perception that his early promise would never fully translate into postseason success.
That narrative shifted this season in Seattle. Signed last spring as a low-risk bet by the Seahawks, Darnold entered the year with something to prove and little margin for error. Less than twelve months later, he has delivered the franchise a Super Bowl berth.
A defining performance in the NFC Championship
Seattle’s 31-27 victory over the Rams in the NFC championship game marked the most significant performance of Darnold’s career. He threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover, repeatedly answering pressure with precision throws and calm decision-making.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said afterward that Darnold “shut a lot of people up,” highlighting the significance of producing his cleanest game on the biggest stage. The performance came despite limited practice time during the week due to an oblique injury.
Ahead of his draft peers at last
In his 103rd career start, Darnold reached the Super Bowl before any of the other quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2018 draft, including MVP winners Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. It is a milestone few would have predicted during his early struggles with the New York Jets or later setbacks in Carolina.
Former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson called Darnold’s comeback one of the most inspirational stories in the league over the past two years.
Trust earned inside the Seahawks locker room
Darnold’s leadership has been embraced by teammates who watched his resilience firsthand. Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who finished the NFC title game with 153 receiving yards, said the team’s belief in Darnold never wavered.
That trust was evident late in the fourth quarter, when Seattle protected a four-point lead by putting the ball in Darnold’s hands on critical passing plays instead of running out the clock. The decision sealed the win and underscored the confidence the coaching staff now places in him.
Exorcising old ghosts
The Super Bowl will bring symbolic symmetry. Darnold will face the New England Patriots, the same franchise that once overwhelmed him as a young Jet, producing the infamous “seeing ghosts” moment early in his career.
Now 28, Darnold says he barely thinks about that episode. He views his journey as a process of learning, growth, and persistence. His recent stretch reflects that evolution, with twelve touchdowns and only four interceptions since midseason.
A winding path meets its biggest stage
While New England arrives with a rookie quarterback and a rapid rebuild, Seattle’s run has been fueled by a veteran quarterback who refused to let early failures define him. Darnold’s career arc stands as one of the league’s rare examples of delayed fulfillment.
On Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Darnold will finally take the field on football’s biggest stage, no longer as a reclamation project, but as the quarterback who led his team there.