Sam Darnold was originally drafted by the New York Jets, but ultimately failed to become their long-term starting quarterback. He has completely changed the narrative of his career since then, going from a draft bust to a championship quarterback. A former general manager, who recently drafted him, discussed the overall situation.
Former Jets GM Discusses Sam Darnold Reviving His Career After Draft Bust
Darnold didn’t turn out to be the quarterback that the Jets were hoping for when they drafted him with the third-overall pick in the NFL Draft. Since leaving New York, he has found much greater success, including helping the Seattle Seahawks reach the Super Bowl this year.
Mike Maccagnan is generally considered the one who drafted Darnold for the Jets, as he was serving as their general manager at the time. He recently discussed his overall feelings about the situation, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
“I was always kind of sad that Sam wasn’t able to fulfill that potential in New York. That’s where he started his journey, and, in an ideal world, he would’ve finished it there. But it wasn’t meant to be, and he had to go on his own journey to grow and develop in different places. It makes me feel good that he’s fulfilling his potential. It’s not necessarily vindication. In our business, when you see something, and it turns out the way you envisioned it, it makes you feel good. I think every scout probably feels that way,” explained Maccagnan.
It has been a long road for Darnold on his way to becoming a championship quarterback. He departed the Jets after failing to convince them of his potential as a long-term answer and then spent one unimpressive year with the Carolina Panthers. An ideal opportunity arose for him to be the starter for the Minnesota Vikings last year, but after going 14-3 and making the playoffs, they shockingly decided to let him go.
This is when he joined the Seahawks ahead of the 2025 NFL season and finished a career-best 13th in PFSN’s Impact Rankings among all quarterbacks. He has helped Seattle navigate the NFC and represent the conference in the upcoming Super Bowl 60. It appears to be a bittersweet situation for Maccagnan, who apparently identified the right prospect but wasn’t able to unlock his potential in New York.
