The Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 season was one of the biggest surprises in the NFL last year. Following Kirk Cousins’ departure, Minnesota finished with a shocking 14-3 record, tying the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles for the third-most wins in the regular season (the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs both had records of 15-2).
Sam Darnold, who seemed destined to become a journeyman, stepped up and led the Vikings to their best regular season in years while also helping his head coach, Kevin O’Connell, win the NFL Coach of the Year. Despite the regular season success, Minnesota’s playoff aspirations came crashing down with a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round.
Now, the franchise faces a crucial decision at quarterback: Is Darnold the long-term answer, or should they turn to rookie J.J. McCarthy? One Vikings legend didn’t hold back when giving his thoughts on the matter.
Vikings Legend Questions If Sam Darnold Can Win a Super Bowl
On a recent episode of “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams, former NFL star Jared Alle, shared his thoughts on Minnesota’s quarterback situation heading into the 2025 season. While he acknowledged Darnold’s contributions, he made it clear that he doubts whether the veteran QB can lead the team to a championship.
“You have to decide if J.J. [McCarthy is] your guy. I thought Sam had a great year, but as a fan, I got nervous the last two weeks. I don’t think he’s played in a lot of big games in his career, and in the two biggest games this season, it wasn’t great,” he said.
“He gave the Vikings’ fans a season that a lot of people didn’t think we were gonna have, and that’s why Kevin got Coach of the Year … but at the end of the day, we’re trying to win Super Bowls. And if I’m being brutally honest, I don’t know if he’s gonna be the guy that takes us to a Super Bowl.”
Should the Vikings MOVE ON from Sam Darnold??
Vikings great Jared Allen: "If I'm being brutally honest, i don't know if he's gonna be the guy that can take us to the Super Bowl…" @heykayadams @Vikings | #Skol pic.twitter.com/OEypUcvdgU
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 18, 2025
What’s Next for Minnesota at QB?
The Vikings are now at a crossroads. Darnold had a career year, finishing with 4,319 passing yards 35 touchdowns, and a 66.2% completion percentage, all of which are career highs. His PFSN’s QB+ metric for the 2024 regular season was 79.0 (B), placing him in the top third of the league.
On the other hand, Minnesota invested a first-round pick in McCarthy, hoping he could eventually become the franchise QB. While McCarthy did not see any action as a rookie (out for the year with a preseason meniscus injury), his potential and big-game experience at Michigan make him an intriguing option heading into 2025.
O’Connell and the Vikings’ front office now have a major decision to make. Do they stick with Darnold and hope he takes another step forward, or do they hand the reins to McCarthy and build for the future?