Sam Darnold, fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Seattle Seahawks, has spoken about his departure from the Minnesota Vikings.
Darnold’s Perspective on Vikings’ Quarterback Strategy
Darnold said he “totally understands” the Vikings’ decision to move on from him. He cited the appeal of opting for a younger quarterback on a rookie contract and signing veteran players. Darnold believes J.J. McCarthy will be a “really good player in this league.”
“I totally understand the move to go with the younger quarterback on a rookie deal, and signing these veteran players that you can maybe pay a little bit more while he’s on his rookie deal, especially if you believe in him,” Darnold said on The San Clemente Podcast.
He added: “Yeah, the business side of it, I totally understand. And like, I think J.J. [McCarthy] is a good player. I think he’s going to be a really good player in this league. I truly believe that. And, you know, for them to see that and be like, ‘Alright, we’re gonna, you know, Sam, that was a great year,’ but like the business part of it, it was like, ‘OK, like, you know, I totally understand.’”
The Quarterback Conundrum in Minnesota
The Vikings had traded up to draft McCarthy. They needed to assess his potential.
The Vikings also needed an experienced veteran with starting experience, particularly if McCarthy was injured or struggled. The source suggests this contributed to the 2025 season collapsing and the subsequent firing of G.M. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Minnesota also tried to keep Daniel Jones. However, Jones opted to join the Colts, where he felt more confident of securing the QB1 role.
Vikings’ Current Quarterback Situation
The Vikings secured Kyler Murray as an alternative to McCarthy. The coming season will provide answers to several questions.
- Will the Vikings keep Murray, who negotiated a no-tag clause for 2027?
- Will McCarthy step up and secure the long-term job?
- Will the Vikings be starting over at the position?
It remains uncertain whether retaining Darnold or Jones would have significantly improved the Vikings’ season. Despite quarterback struggles, the Vikings nearly reached the postseason.