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Sam Darnold’s journey to the Super Bowl has been long and winding.
Darnold was the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of USC by the New York Jets. He was the second quarterback taken behind Baker Mayfield and was part of an epic rookie class at the quarterback position. Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson were also selected in the first round.
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold raises the winner’s trophy with Michael Strahan, left, after a victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL football game for the NFC championship, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Mason Rudolph, Mike White and Luke Falk were also quarterbacks from that draft class who earned starts during their careers.
If someone were to take a look at Darnold’s career over his first eight years, he would read more like a journeyman quarterback than one a franchise was about to take a gamble on. He played three seasons with the Jets before the franchise grew impatient and traded him.
From there, Darnold was with the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. He led the Vikings to the playoffs after a career year and only grew when he signed a three-year deal with Seattle to replace Geno Smith.
Darnold had 4,048 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns as Seattle went 14-3 and earned the first seed in the NFL playoffs.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive end Braden Fiske (55) during the first half of the NFC Championship game in the NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
SUPER BOWL LX: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GAME
Now, he is the first quarterback of his draft class to earn a Super Bowl appearance.
“You can’t talk about the game without talking about our quarterback,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said. “He silenced a lot of people tonight, so I’m happy for him.”
Darnold played with an oblique injury and was 25 of 36 for 346 yards without a turnover.
“I can’t say enough about Sam, man,” Seahawks star Jaxson Smith-Njigba said. “It’s been a great first year. We have one more year left. But for him to overcome what he had to overcome, I will ride with Sam all day.”
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold warms up before the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
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Now, the Seahawks will play in Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots.
