Following a brutal start to his career, NFL fans were quick to label Sam Darnold a bust. Years later, he has led his team to a Super Bowl appearance, and viewers have again taken notice. One analyst and former NFL quarterback, in particular, praised Darnold’s impressive bounceback.
What Did the Ex-NFL QB Say About Sam Darnold’s Recent Performance?
On Monday morning, on ESPN’s “Get Up,” the crew discussed Seattle’s massive win over Los Angeles in the NFC Championship.
The question was asked, “Did Sam Darnold and Seahawks do enough to silence doubters?” and former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky immediately shared his thoughts.
Orlovsky called out those doubters, stating, “Darnold played and won in the way that all the loud-mouths said he couldn’t.”
Orlovsky added that Darnold was poised, didn’t throw the ball away, and continuously made the right play in big moments. He also mentioned Darnold’s clutchness, describing him as “remarkable” on third-downs.
“[Sam] Darnold played and won in the way that all the loud-mouths said he couldn’t. … It was the redemption story of Sam Darnold.” 👀
—@danorlovsky7 on Sam Darnold and the Seahawks defeating the Rams pic.twitter.com/WpK1zhwVuS
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 26, 2026
Orlovsky wrapped up by emphasizing that fans had it wrong about the former first-round quarterback, calling this playoff run “the redemption story of Sam Darnold.”
Darnold’s pro career began in New York after the Jets selected him third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Having only played two years at the collegiate level, the 20-year-old (at the time) needed time to develop.
However, after posting a 13-25 record across three seasons and a third-year campaign in which he passed for only 9 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions, the Jets decided to move on.
In Darnold’s second stop, in Carolina, his play hardly improved. He posted an 8-10 record over two seasons, throwing 16 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions over 3,670 yards.
Thankfully for Darnold, it was all uphill from there. He then spent one season with the 49ers, operating as Brock Purdy’s backup. Still, it proved to be a very valuable experience, especially having the opportunity to develop under head coach Kyle Shanahan.
A year later, Darnold signed with the Vikings, and his career truly took off. He earned the starting quarterback position and went on to post his best statistical season. He led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, while throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, as well as earning a Pro Bowl appearance.
Unfortunately, there were still flashes from the Darnold of old. In Week 18 of the 2024 season, Darnold and the Vikings fell by a score of 31-9, missing out on the one-seed in the NFC. Then, in the Wild Card round, Darnold’s offense failed again, dropping to the Rams 27-9.
Despite a 17-week sample size of exceptional performance, the final two-game stretch earned Darnold the label “can’t win big games.” Minnesota let him go in free agency, and Seattle soon came to an agreement with Darnold.
Ever since, it has been a match made in heaven. Darnold and the Seahawks claimed the top seed in the NFC, with a 14-3 record. The 28-year-old QB also led Seattle to the ninth-ranked Offense according to PFSN, thanks to 4,048 passing yards and 25 touchdowns.
Most notably, he has changed the playoff narrative. Darnold took down the 49ers in the Divisional Round by a score of 41-6, as well as the Rams this past Sunday in the NFC championship, 31-27. Seattle is known for its top-ranked defense, but Darnold put the franchise on his back, logging 346 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns.
Darnold has already proved the doubters wrong, but if he can take down the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60, he will solidify himself as one of the top QBs in the entire NFL.
