It’s been quite the journey for quarterback Sam Darnold. The former USC star entered the NFL carrying enormous expectations after the New York Jets selected him with the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Jets struggled to build a consistent roster around him. Coaching changes, roster turnover, injuries, and losses followed. After three seasons, New York moved in a different direction, ending a partnership that never fully lived up to its promise.
For many players, that chapter might have created bitterness. Darnold appears to feel something different.
Following his departure from New York, Darnold’s career became something of a football nomad’s journey. He spent two seasons with the Carolina Panthers before serving as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers. A stop with the Minnesota Vikings followed, where he revitalized his career and earned the first Pro Bowl selection of his NFL journey.
Then came the Seattle Seahawks. They believed in him. Darnold rewarded that faith by helping lead Seattle to a Super Bowl LX championship.
During a recent appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys Podcast, Darnold reflected on his time with the Jets and acknowledged something many fans probably weren’t expecting to hear. The Jets still hold a special place in his heart.
He admitted he would have loved to stay in New York and win a Super Bowl with the organization that drafted him:
Football rarely follows a straight line. Darnold eventually found success, but not in the city where his professional career began. The Jets moved on. Darnold moved on. Yet both sides remain connected through one of the league’s most fascinating “what if” stories. The good news for Jets fans is that the organization appears to have found renewed direction under head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey.
The good news for Darnold is that he finally reached the mountaintop. Still, hearing him talk about New York makes one thing clear. Even after a Super Bowl ring, part of him wishes that a championship parade could have also been enjoyed somewhere else.
The reality, however, is that both sides eventually found a path forward, even if it wasn’t together. Darnold got his ring, and the Jets got a fresh start, but neither outcome fully erases the curiosity surrounding their shared past. Some NFL stories are remembered for how they ended. This one will always be remembered because of what it could have become.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Sam Darnold admits he wanted to win a Super Bowl with the Jets
Reporting by Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire / Jets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire | USA TODAY Network
