Sam Darnold was hailed as the hero for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024—until the team’s final few games.
After starting in place of the injured J.J. McCarthy, who missed the season with a knee injury, Darnold led the Vikings to a 14–3 record and a playoff spot. His future with the team appeared secure, but his performance in the Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions raised doubts. Darnold struggled, completing 18 of 41 passes for just 166 yards, with no touchdowns and two sacks, as the Vikings fell 31–9.
Minnesota’s title hopes were dashed in the wild-card round, as they were defeated 27–9 by the Los Angeles Rams. Darnold was sacked an NFL playoff-record nine times. These setbacks played a significant role in the Vikings’ decision not to franchise tag Darnold, making him a free agent.
- Sam Darnold
Reflecting on his time in Minnesota during his introductory press conference with the Seattle Seahawks, Darnold shared how the experience would help him moving forward. He acknowledged areas for improvement, including quicker decision-making and better awareness of checkdown options.
“I think getting the ball out faster on some of the dropbacks, knowing where the outlets are, and even throwing it at the feet of my backs when they’re covered, would’ve helped avoid some unnecessary sacks,” Darnold explained. “I’ll be focusing on that, keeping two hands on the ball, and doing the little things to improve.”
Despite his rough finish to the season, Darnold earned his first Pro Bowl selection, having thrown for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. However, his 48 sacks on the season were the fourth most in the NFL.
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