Sam Darnold had one of the most surprising seasons in 2024. He entered the year branded a first-round bust who was, at best, considered a journeyman backup. His once promising career seemed not so much doomed, but seemingly reduced to the fate of a permanent backup. His signing a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings almost felt like an afterthought.
The Vikings planned to start the season with first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, but he tore his meniscus and was ruled out for the year. Darnold took over the offense, but not much was expected. Instead, he had a career year and led the Vikings to an astounding 14-3 record.
After a year like that, you’d think he might have earned himself a chance to play in Minnesota for the long haul.
Why Did the Vikings Part Ways With Sam Darnold?
Darnold set career highs in 2024, with 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, while completing 66.2% of his passes.
After six long years, Darnold finally looked like the quarterback everyone thought he would be when the New York Jets drafted him third overall in 2018.
However, the Vikings also got an eyeful of the Darnold that observers around the NFL had grown accustomed to at the end of the regular season.
In the league’s final game, the Vikings travelled to Detroit to take on the Lions. Both teams’ records stood at 14-2, and this matchup would decide who would win the NFC North Division and lock in the NFC’s top seed and a first-round bye.
The Vikings were crushed 31-9 and relegated to a Wild Card berth. Darnold didn’t throw any interceptions, but he didn’t throw any touchdowns either. He finished with 18 completions on 41 attempts for 166 yards against a Lions’ defense that was decimated by injuries.
Darnold didn’t fare much better in the Vikings’ Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams the following week.
The Rams were supposed to host the game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Still, the game was moved to State Farm Field in Glendale, Arizona, because of the devastating wildfires that ripped across Southern California.
Even with the Rams seemingly disadvantaged by disruptive travel plans and act-of-god-level circumstances, the Vikings were thoroughly dominated on both sides of the ball.
The Rams blitzed Darnold relentessly and he gave up a fumble that Rams’ linebacker Jared Verse scooped up and ran back for a 57-yard touchdown. Darnold also threw an interception while finishing the day completing 25 passes for 245 yards with one touchdown, one pick, and that disastrous fumble.
Having already invested a first-round pick in McCarthy, Darnold’s late-season and playoff performance gave easy cover for the Vikings to let Darnold leave in free agency.
However, on the strength of his body of work in 2024, Darnold landed on his feet and signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal ($55 million guaranteed) with the Seattle Seahawks.
Now, the Vikings will see if their bet on McCarthy over Darnold was the right one.
