Popular Former Viking Earns Spot among NFL’s Top Reboots
Kevin O’Connell is in charge of Quarterback University in Minneapolis, and according to CBS Sports, a few of his recent projects are among the league’s best rebooted passers. In fact, Sam Darnold, who spent the 2024 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings, pulled down the No. 2 ranking on a list of reclamation signal-callers.
Suddenly, players stop by the Minnesota Vikings for a period and rejuvenate their careers. It’s happening again in 2025, according to CBS Sports.
Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Carson Wentz got a little bit of love this week in the “reboot” conversation.
Freshly Rebooted Ex-Viking Sam Darnold Turns Heads
CBS Sports calls it ” the year of rebooted passers.”
Sam Darnold Named NFL’s 2nd-Best ‘Reboot’ Quarterback
CBS Sports‘ Douglas Clawson called 2025 a “historic year” for quarterback reboots through five weeks and ranked such examples.
On Darnold at No. 2 on his list, he wrote: “You don’t see comeback stories like Baker Mayfield (on his fourth team) and Sam Darnold (on his fifth team). They are the only former first-round pick quarterbacks since 1970 to make their first Pro Bowl on their fourth (or more team. Mayfield made his first in 2023 and Darnold made one last year. Darnold is the only quarterback in NFL history to start for five different teams before turning 29.”
“He’s too young to be a journeyman but this is the NFL in 2025. Darnold’s career is officially back from the dead after it looked like ‘seeing ghosts’ was going to be his NFL legacy. He was a top 10 quarterback last year before crumbling in the final two games. But he’s put that behind him with a solid start in Seattle. He’s averaging 9.3 yards per attempt this season, the most by a quarterback in his first five games with a team since Kurt Warner’s start with the Rams from 1998-99.”
Darnold’s Seahawks have the same record as the Vikings at the moment: 3-2. He’s posting fringe MVP numbers along the way.
Darnold’s Numbers in Seattle
The Seahawks quarterback has produced a couple of blunders in poorly timed spots this season, including a Week 1 fumble during a potentially game-winning drive against the San Francisco 49ers. And last weekend, Darnold tossed a game-ending interception versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But aside from those gaffes, he’s on pace for 4,236 passing yards, with 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions + fumbles. Not bad.
Here’s where Darnold ranks leaguewide per the top metrics:
- ESPN QBR: 1st
- EPA+CPOE: 1st
- PFF: 2nd
- Passer Rating: 3rd
- QB ELO: 18th
Daniel Jones Makes the Cut
Also formerly an attendee of KOCU, Daniel Jones checked in at No. 4 on Clawson’s list, one spot behind Jared Goff.
Clawson on Jones: “There’s probably more shock value to Jones’ success than anyone else on this list, but it’s also only been five games. Still, what a five games it’s been! He’s kicked the door open after Anthony Richardson’s poor play and preseason injury. The Colts have scored on 65% of their drives this year, the highest rate by any team through five games since 2000.”
“They are coming off a game with six straight touchdown drives and they also started the year with back-to-back games with no turnovers and no punts. It’s been a crazy start, which is a reflection of Jones’ dual-threat ability and fit with Shane Steichen. Jones ranks second in the NFL in EPA per dropback this season between two quarterbacks already named on this list, Jared Goff (first) and Sam Darnold (third).”
Both Darnold and Jones rank in the Top 12 of the league’s MVP race.
Don’t Forget about Carson Wentz
Finally, the Vikings’ own Carson Wentz got some love.
“Wentz is still the Vikings’ starting quarterback as of writing this, so let’s give him some love. He needs some after going from MVP favorite in 2017 before tearing his ACL to the prototypical journeyman. He’s the only quarterback in NFL history to start for a different team in six straight seasons,” Clawson explained while tabbing Wentz as the eighth-best quarterback reboot so far in 2025.
“The Vikings signed him two weeks before the season and he’s filled in OK, even if his two wins are against the Browns and Bengals. He’s 13th in EPA per dropback this year and just gave us a game-winning drive capped with a touchdown pass to Jordan Addison last week.”
Baker Mayfield Takes the Cake, and Rightfully So
Mayfield led the way on Clawson’s list. He’s on track for 4,362 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions when his five-game sample is scaled to 17 games.
In fact, if an injury were to beset Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Mayfield would rocket to the top of the NFL’s MVP list. Mayfield has played that well and has totally reclaimed his career in Tampa Bay.
Mayfield didn’t even need O’Connell University. He had that Sean McVay treatment for a couple of weeks in 2022.
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