Sam Darnold may be in the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, but the star quarterback’s career really took a turn for the better last season with the Minnesota Vikings. Like this season, Darnold had
a 14-3 regular season record, posting strong statistics while throwing to one of the NFL’s best wide receivers. Unlike last year in Minnesota, there was no late-season collapse and early playoff exit with Seattle. Meanwhile, the Vikings missed the playoffs with major struggles at quarterback in terms of injuries and performance.
For Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson, 2025 was statistically one of his least productive seasons of an otherwise outstanding career. In an interview with USA Today Sports, Jefferson was inevitably asked about Darnold and whether it’s bittersweet to see his former QB get to the big game immediately after leaving the Vikings.
“It’s definitely tough. It’s tough to watch,” Jefferson said. “Of course, I love that he’s in the Super Bowl. I’m happy for him, I want nothing but the best for him, especially the way his journey was at first, people doubting him and people not giving him the respect. Now they’re giving him that respect. Now they’re seeing that he’s a top-tier quarterback in this league.
“Of course, selfishly, I wish that he had done that for us last year, but to see him blossom and bounce back right after last year and make it this year, I’m all happy for him, and I hope he wins. I’m rooting for Seattle and I think Seattle’s going to win. I’ll be rooting for him.”
The Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy in 2024. While Darnold was expected to be the Week 1 starter, McCarthy’s season-ending meniscus injury in preseason rendered any thoughts of seeing him play regular season snaps moot. More injuries and inconsistent play impacted McCarthy’s 2025. Carson Wentz was McCarthy’s backup until he suffered a season-ending injury, while Max Brosmer was fully healthy but looking very much like an undrafted third-string quarterback.
“Everyone knows the difficulty of the quarterback position this year, how we were dealt it,” Jefferson said. “But having a quarterback that already had a season under his belt with us, knew the plays, knew the playbook, knew the players, throwing to me, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, all these guys, I definitely feel like we would have done better.
“It is what it is. It’s on to new and better things, but I’m definitely proud that he is able to reach it this year.”
Perhaps the Darnold departure was one of the reasons the Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who even recently addressed the decision not to re-sign Darnold in free agency or at least place a franchise tag on him.
Thanks to Justin for pulling for the Seahawks! He said Seattle has a “great all-around team” and more so after adding Darnold.
