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Sam Darnold’s journey to a Super Bowl has been long and winding.
Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of USC by the New York Jets. He was the second quarterback behind Baker Mayfield and was part of an epic rookie class at the quarterback position. Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson were also taken in the first round.
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold lifts the trophy next to Michael Strahan, left, after a victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)
Mason Rudolph, Mike White and Luke Falk were also quarterbacks from the draft class who got starts during their careers.
If anyone took a look at Darnold’s career through his first eight years, it sounds more like a journeyman quarterback rather than one that a franchise was betting on. He played three seasons with the Jets before the franchise got impatient and traded him away.
From there, Darnold was on the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. He took the Vikings to the playoffs after a career year and only built on that 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 top 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 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 from his draft class to make a Super Bowl appearance.
“You can’t talk about the game without talking about our quarterback,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said. “He shut a lot of people down tonight, so I’m happy for him.”
Darnold played through an oblique injury and was 25-of-36 for 346 yards with no turnovers.
“Can’t say enough about Sam, man,” Seahawks star Jaxson Smith-Njigba said. “It’s been a great first year. We’ve got one more to go. But for him to overcome what he had to overcome, I 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. Vasquez)
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Now the Seahawks will play in Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots.
