Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings emerged as one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this season, making it to the playoffs with a remarkable 14-3 record. In his first year with the team, Darnold stepped into the starting quarterback role and had the best performance of his career.
The 27-year-old racked up 35 touchdown passes and threw for 4,319 yards, achieving a 66.2% completion rate, all of which are personal bests over his eight seasons in the NFL. Darnold was initially selected by the New York Jets as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft. He spent three years with the Jets before moving to the Carolina Panthers.
He played for the Panthers from 2021 to 2022 and had a brief period with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. According to the Pro Football Writers of America, Darnold made history by becoming the first quarterback since 1950 to achieve 14 wins in his first season with a new team
In the 2024 season, Darnold topped the NFL in completions of over 20 yards (62) and over 25 yards (41). In just one season with the Vikings, Darnold has revitalized his NFL career and is now heading into the offseason as a free agent.
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