After a disastrous start to Sam Darnolds career, many wrote off the USC quarterback. To be fair, Darnolds first NFL pa s was a pick-six. However, after six seasons with three different teams, Darnold landed in Minnesota, where he was expected to be the backup. The team had just drafted who they thought would be their franchise quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, but he tore his meniscus in his first preseason game. Suddenly, Darnold was starting, and many a sumed it would go the same way much of Corey Crawford Jersey his career had. Then again, Darnold had never had a player like Justin Jefferson to throw to, and certainly never a head coach like Kevin OConnell. Despite an impre sive first season as the Vikings starter, Darnolds rough playoff showing led Minnesota to go with the younger McCarthy. An opening with the then presented itself, and leaving Minnesota might have been the best thing for Darnold. The Sporting News has the full breakdown of Darnolds contract situation. MORE: Sam Darnold contract details Following his departure from Minnesota, Darnold was a free agent looking for a home. Darnold eventually landed a deal with the Seahawks. In March of 2025, he signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract. This made Darnold the 18th-highest-paid active quarterback in the league. MORE: Why did Sam Darnold sign with Seahawks? It was sort of a perfect storm for Darnold and the Seahawks. Seattle could not re-sign Geno Smith; therefore, they dealt him to the . Darnold was pushed out of Minnesota for McCarthy, and he just had the best season of his career. Seattle was not in a position to sellbecause its roster was still extremely talented. Not only was Darnold's prior season a draw, but for Seattle in particular, it was his familiarity with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Kubiak had coached Darnold in 2023 when they both cro sed paths with the . With one season in the books, Minnesota might be kicking itself as the Seahawks finished asthe No. 1 in the NFC. Whereas the Vikings not only mi sed the playoffsbut also got few answers from McCarthy. MORE: Sam Darnold 2025 free agency All things considered, Darnold was one of the best quarterback options available in free agency. After his resurgence in Minnesota, teams could not help butmarvel at the po sibility of Darnold recreating. However, his horrific playoff performance in his last game as a Viking certainly deterred some organizations from being aggre sive towards Darold. The Seahawks received a lot of backlash for paying a player like Darnold, who, up until that point, had only one good season in his entire NFL career. Now, only one season into his deal, the Seahawks are Super Bowl contenders. MORE: Seth Jones Jersey