Sam Darnold’s NFL journey has been anything but linear. Once hailed as a franchise savior coming out of USC, Darnold entered the league with sky-high expectations, only to face early turbulence that tested both his confidence and his career trajectory. Yet, through setbacks, system changes, and renewed opportunities, Darnold has gradually evolved from a raw, mistake-prone prospect into a steadier, more mature quarterback who understands what it takes to succeed in the NFL and will now have a chance to make his first Super Bowl with a win against the Rams on Sunday.

USC

Even Sam Darnold’s college experience was rocky. Sam Darnold was recruited to USC by Head Coach Steve Sarkisian, who also recruited another blue chip QB. However, Darnold was so good, five-star QB Ricky Town Transferred. In Darnold’s second year at USC he had a new head coach (Clay Helton) and originally lost the competition for the starting job to former five-star recruit Max Browne. After starting 1-2, Clay Helton gave the keys to Darnold who went 9-1 as a starter in 2016 with a Rose Bowl win over Penn State. In 2017 he had another good year but struggled with turnovers. Looking back on it, this could be atributed to the coaching as Clay Helton ended up being viewed as one of the worst coaches in USC history and that team as a whole ended up being dissapointing relative to preseason expectations. Darnold was still good enough to go third overall in the NFL draft to the New York Jets.

Jets

When Darnold was selected third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, he was viewed as the prototype modern quarterback: strong arm, mobility, and the ability to make off-platform throws. At USC, he displayed creativity and fearlessness, often extending plays and attacking tight windows. However, that same aggressive mindset led to turnovers at the professional level, especially behind inconsistent offensive lines and within unstable coaching environments. In New York, constant scheme changes and a lack of elite supporting talent forced Darnold to play hero ball, reinforcing habits that resulted in interceptions and stalled development. The Jets set Sam up for failure. Any 20 year old quarterback tasked with saving a terrible franchise was doomed to fail. His head coach got fired after his rookie season and the Jets hired Adam Gase and I think we all know how that went. The Jets failed to give Darnold any sort of offensive line, legit recievers, and competent coaching. Darnold is not an outlier when it comes to succeeding after leaving the Jets. Look at guys such as Mehki Becton, Demario Davis, Geno Smith, Leonard Williams and coached such as Robert Saleh and Todd Bowles.

Panthers

The move to Carolina in 2021 marked the first major turning point. His stint with the Panthers started off great going 3-0 and being an early Mvp candidate. However, the rest of that season ended up being a disaster and the Panthers decided to bring in Baker Mayfield that offseason which ended up not working out. That may of been one of the best things to Happen to Sam Darnold because he eventually won the starting QB job back on November 27th 2022 and since then he has been the winningest quarterback in the NFL.

49ers

Darnold’s most significant growth, however, came when he embraced the role of a learner and teammate rather than a guaranteed starter. Serving in backup and bridge-quarterback roles, he absorbed new systems, refined his footwork, and became more decisive with his reads. His internal clock improved, his pocket movement became calmer, and he showed a greater willingness to take checkdowns and live for the next play. These are subtle traits, but they often separate quarterbacks who flame out from those who carve out long, productive careers. This was also a big deal because this was the season Sam Darnold got introduced to the Shanahan/McVay system which is heaven for quarterbacks.

Vikings

After a year with the 49ers Kevin O’Connell decided to steal Sam Darnold from his friend Kyle Shannahan to be a bridge quarterback before they moved to JJ McCarthy. However the rookie got injured and Darnold not only started the whole year, but lead the Vikings to a 14-3 record and he had 35 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards. That year lead to a 100 million dollar contract with the Seahawks

Seahawks

Sam Darnold has lead the Seahawks to have a nearly identical season to what the Vikings had last season. The Seahawks are the number one seed, JSN has had a breakout season, and he has won his first playoff game. It is no coincidence that the Seahawks have had one of their best seasons in franchise history with Darnold at QB.

Growth

Today, Sam Darnold represents a different quarterback than the wide-eyed rookie who entered the league in 2018. He is more patient, more situationally aware, and more comfortable operating within structure. While he may no longer be labeled a can’t-miss superstar, his evolution into a composed, reliable professional has given him renewed value in the NFL. Darnold’s story is a reminder that quarterback development is rarely instantaneous and that resilience, adaptability, and humility can be just as important as arm strength and draft status. In addition, it is also a reminder that no player is good with the New York Jets