Sam Darnold Comes Clean about Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings did not re-up with Sam Darnold for the 2025 campaign, cutting ties with the veteran passer in favor of J.J. McCarthy.
Sam Darnold told all about the Vikings’ playoff blunder, taking personal onus for the defeat, and elaborating on his performance.
Now, Darnold works for the Seattle Seahawks, where he’ll lead Mike Macdonald’s team into the future, along with Jalen Milroe and Drew Lock in the quarterback room.
And courtesy of The Athletic this week, Darnold spilled the beans on his dreadful playoff performance with the Vikings five months ago.
What Darnold Said about the Vikings’ Playoff Loss
Sam Darnold Speaks on Vikings Playoff Gaffe from January
Darnold told Michael Silver this week, “For lack of a better term, we laid an egg as an offense. And I think, for me personally, that sucks. I felt like we were a really good team, but at the end of the day — and this is gonna sound a little pessimistic — but when you get to the end of it and you don’t win the whole thing, you failed.”
“I feel like I could have played way better, to be completely honest with you. I feel I didn’t play up to my standard. I truly feel that way. I feel like if I would have just played better, I would’ve been able to give the team a chance.”
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Candid thoughts from the man at the epicenter of the Vikings’ one-and-done 2024 campaign after tallying a sweet 14-3 record.
A Blunder, Indeed
Make no mistake, Darnold’s Vikings played wonderfully for most of the 2024 season, racking up 14 wins and only really encountering troubles in Week 18 and the postseason.
Minnesota’s wins in 2024 weren’t fluky or unconvincing — like the 2022 regular season — so when the bottom fell out at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions in Week 18 and versus the Los Angeles Rams in the Wildcard Round, the defeats felt soul-crushing and unbecoming of the first 17 weeks.
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
And according to Darnold, he and the offense just couldn’t click.
Choosing Seattle as His Next Chapter
Early offseason chatter suggested that Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could re-sign Darnold to have the best of both worlds at the sport’s most important position. But when the rubber hit the road, Darnold chose a fatter contract in Seattle — why wouldn’t he? — and a starter’s job when he might’ve played second fiddle to McCarthy in the Twin Cities.
Darnold must play proficiently in Seattle, though, as the Seahawks’ 3rd-Round investment in the aforementioned Milroe isn’t a lottery pick draft selection. Drew Lock isn’t a pushover, either.
Vikings Roll with J.J. McCarthy
In Minnesota, the McCarthy era will get underway in 11 weeks.
Darnold, along with fellow quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Nick Mullens, left the Vikings in March, and they’re not coming back. Adofo-Mensah responded by trading for Sam Howell — who worked for the Seahawks last year — as his QB2 this season, and he’ll be the primary backup to McCarthy if an injury arises.
Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Rather emphatically, Minnesota chose McCarthy over Darnold for the long haul and even told Aaron Rodgers “no thanks” this offseason.
Report This Week Says Raiders Didn’t Want Darnold
In other Darnold-related news, the Las Vegas Raiders evidently didn’t want anything to do with Darnold’s free agency.
SI.com’s Tom Dierberger wrote this week, “Heading into the offseason, it was widely reported that minority owner and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady would have significant input into the Las Vegas Raiders’ search for a new quarterback.
“As expected, that’s exactly what happened. The Raiders, who won just four games last season with Gardner Minshew II, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder starting under center, were the favorites to land one of the top names expected to be available.”
Perhaps Brady wanted to avoid another Darnold playoff meltdown.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Dierberger then delivered the goods, “Many expected the organization to make a run at Sam Darnold, the top quarterback to set to hit free agency after a resurgent year with the Minnesota Vikings. However, Brady was not a fan. The Athletic’s Michael Silver reported Thursday that Brady did not want the Raiders to invest in Darnold.”
“Instead, the Raiders opted to trade for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, bringing in a more experienced veteran to run the offensive huddle that now consists of star tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 pick of the 2025 NFL draft.”
Seattle, led by Darnold, is expected to win 8.5 games this year — the same as the Vikings.
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