As former USC quarterback Sam Darnold leads his team to an appearance in Super Bowl 60, he will make history. Darnold took a circuitous path to arrive at this point. Yet, his road started with the Trojans.
Former USC QB Sam Darnold Will Become First QB to Start a Super Bowl in Team History
As the Seattle Seahawks prepare to face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60, Darnold will make history. “Sam Darnold will be the first USC quarterback to start in a Super Bowl,” he wrote.
Sam Darnold will be the first USC quarterback to start in a Super Bowl
— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) January 26, 2026
To put that in context, consider the overall significance. Since 1946, 25 USC quarterbacks have started an NFL game. On Sept. 29 of that year, Jim Hardy took the field as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, the former first-round draft pick completed just two of 12 passes for 23 yards and an interception.
Philadelphia beat the Rams, 24-14. Hardy later won an NFL championship as a backup with the Detroit Lions in 1952 and still holds the record for most interceptions in a game, with eight. Consequently, Darnold’s school had a less-than-stellar start. (Note: Mort Kaer is listed as a halfback/quarterback who played in 1931, but no record exists of him taking a snap as a quarterback, per Pro Football Reference.)
Likewise, his career is marked by changes in location and coaching assignments. In 2018, the New York Jets selected him with the No. 3 pick in the draft. After a 13-25 career in New York, the team shipped him to Carolina. After two seasons and 17 starts (8-9 record), the Panthers allowed Darnold to walk away in free agency.
He landed with the San Francisco 49ers, where he started in one game while playing in 10 as a backup. When the Minnesota Vikings signed him, they expected him to back up rookie JJ McCarthy. McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason, thrusting Darnold into a starting role.
Over the next two seasons, Darnold boasts a record of 28-6 with 8,367 yards and 60 touchdowns with a 66.9% completion percentage. This season, he ranked No. 13 in PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Rankings.
At USC, Darnold started as a freshman, in part because of the belief that he would be the one to bring the school back to a national championship. As a redshirt freshman, he played his first three games as a backup to Max Browne. The team struggled and started Darnold. From there, he only lost four games over the next 24 games, winning a Pac-12 championship and a bowl game in the process.
For a school that possesses three Heisman Trophy winners at quarterback (Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Caleb Williams) and nine first-round signal-callers, Darnold will have the opportunity to put his alma mater into the record books.
