Sam Darnold's improbable journey to the Super Bowl has been a subject of much ridicule and skepticism, but he will be taking the field as a starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks on football's biggest stage.
Darnold has had a remarkable turnaround since being shipped off from New York after struggling with turnovers and a dysfunctional franchise that didn't give him much of a supporting cast. He eventually found himself in San Francisco, where he studied under Kyle Shanahan's system, forming strong bonds with quarterback coach Klint Kubiak.
When the Vikings signed Darnold as their bridge quarterback for rookie JJ McCarthy, his future looked short-lived, but fate intervened when McCarthy suffered an injury that handed him a second chance. In Minnesota, Darnold displayed fire and confidence he hadn't shown in any of his previous stops, earning Comeback Player of the Year Honors.
In two weeks, Darnold will face San Francisco once again, now as the Seahawks' starter with a three-year, $100m contract. A team that has seen him excel under pressure is now counting on him to take them all the way to the Lombardi Trophy.
Darnold has had a remarkable turnaround since being shipped off from New York after struggling with turnovers and a dysfunctional franchise that didn't give him much of a supporting cast. He eventually found himself in San Francisco, where he studied under Kyle Shanahan's system, forming strong bonds with quarterback coach Klint Kubiak.
When the Vikings signed Darnold as their bridge quarterback for rookie JJ McCarthy, his future looked short-lived, but fate intervened when McCarthy suffered an injury that handed him a second chance. In Minnesota, Darnold displayed fire and confidence he hadn't shown in any of his previous stops, earning Comeback Player of the Year Honors.
In two weeks, Darnold will face San Francisco once again, now as the Seahawks' starter with a three-year, $100m contract. A team that has seen him excel under pressure is now counting on him to take them all the way to the Lombardi Trophy.