Sam I Am: A Vikings Tale
A Viking now, but not at sea,
Lighting it up, could be MVP,
At 27, in his prime,
Darnold’s ready, it’s his time.
One loss so far, No fluke, no scam—
The Vikings rise behind Sam I Am!
It’s hard to believe, but Sam Darnold, once a question mark in the NFL, is now making waves with the Minnesota Vikings. Let’s dive into how this unexpected rise began.
Sam Darnold: From College Standout to NFL Hopeful
Darnold’s college career at USC hinted at greatness. After redshirting in 2015, he took control of the offense in 2016 and 2017, throwing for 7,229 yards and posting a 64.9% completion rate. His 57 touchdowns and 153.7 passer rating made him a force in the Pac-12. In 2016, USC went 10-3 and finished 3rd in the AP poll; in 2017, they finished 11-3, ranking 12th.
With that résumé, Darnold entered the 2018 NFL Draft as a top prospect in a class packed with QB talent, including Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson.
The Jets Years: A Rocky Start
Taken third overall by the New York Jets, expectations were sky-high. Darnold signed a four-year deal worth $30.25 million, including a $20 million signing bonus, but the team struggled to build around him. In his rookie season, the Jets finished 4-12, with Darnold throwing for 2,865 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He was sacked 30 times and ended with a QB rating of 77.6.
Over three seasons with the Jets, Darnold flashed potential, but it wasn’t enough. He amassed 8,097 passing yards, 45 touchdowns, and 39 interceptions with a subpar 59.8% completion rate. The Jets finished a disappointing 13-25 during his tenure, and after a 2-14 disaster in 2020, the writing seemed on the wall for Darnold in New York.
A New Beginning in Carolina
In April 2021, Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers for three draft picks. The Panthers exercised his fifth-year option, guaranteeing him $18.858 million for the 2022 season. Darnold’s first game as a Panther was poetic—he faced off against his former team, the Jets, and led the Panthers to a 19-14 win with 279 passing yards and a rushing touchdown.
A 3-0 start had fans buzzing, but a fractured scapula sidelined Darnold for 4-6 weeks. When he returned, Carolina’s season spiraled into a 5-12 finish, including a 7-game losing streak.
In 2022, after battling for the starting job in the preseason with Baker Mayfield, Darnold found himself sidelined again, this time by a high ankle sprain. But he wasn’t done. He took over as the starter in Week 12, leading the Panthers to a 4-2 finish in their final six games. Despite that strong finish, the Panthers opted not to renew his contract, leaving Darnold’s future uncertain.
West Coast Backup
In March 2023, Darnold inked a 1-year, $10 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers. Initially set to back up Trey Lance, fate took another turn when Lance was traded to the Cowboys, leaving Darnold as the backup to Brock Purdy. He saw action late in the season, but with Purdy leading the way, Darnold found himself in a familiar spot: on the bench.
2024: The Vikings and Sam Darnold on the Rise
March 2024, a new opportunity arose. Darnold signed a 1-year, $10 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings, competing with former Michigan standout JJ McCarthy for the starting job. When McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason, Darnold seized the opportunity and he’s been on a tear ever since.
The season opener on September 8th saw the Vikings take down the New York Giants. From there, they knocked off three consecutive 2023 playoff teams—the 49ers, Texans, and Packers. The Vikings headed to London for Week 5, where they secured a win despite Darnold’s roughest outing of the season. Still, Minnesota stands at 5-1, tie for first in the NFC North.
Through five games, Darnold has thrown for 1,370 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions, completing 66.5% of his passes. He’s also been sacked 18 times but remains resilient, proving his worth in big moments. Currently ranked 9th in MVP odds, Darnold is finally turning heads for the right reasons. The Vikings ranked 7th in Super Bowl odds and 3rd in the NFC Championship odds and are emerging as serious contenders.
Has Sam Finally Found His Fit?
After years of questions surrounding Darnold’s potential, it seems the pieces are finally falling into place. Surrounded by a strong supporting cast and working within a system that maximizes his strengths, Sam I Am is flourishing in ways many doubted he could.
The Vikings are 5-1, and Darnold looks like the quarterback many expected him to be back in 2018. Could this be the start of a career revival? If Darnold and the Vikings continue this form, the answer could be a resounding "Yes."
One thing is clear: Sam Darnold’s Vikings tale has just begun, and so far, it’s been an impressive chapter.
