Two games into the 2024 NFL season and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is in a class of his own. Thus far, Darnold is the only starting quarterback in the NFL to throw multiple touchdown passes in each of his first two games. And the Vikings are winning games because of him.
Although it's early, Darnold is in the midst of the best season in his young career. And it isn't even close. He's posting a career-best passer rating of 111.7, where his previous career high was 92.6 back in 2022 with the Carolina Panthers.
It is safe to say not many people would have seen this 2-0 start coming out of Minnesota, but one player, in particular, saw the future.
On the latest episode of NFL Network's "The Insiders" podcast, Ian Rapoport had the pleasure of speaking with Vikings defensive lineman Harrison Phillips, fresh off his new two-year deal to go with the two wins in just as many weeks.
Rapoport talked to Phillips about his quarterback, Darnold, and posed the question about the veteran passer's breakout so far:
"Did you see this coming?"
Harrison Phillips had no doubt Sam Darnold was going to ball out for the Minnesota Vikings
Phillips, the former Stanford product, didn't miss a beat when he responded:
"I'm going to be honest with you. I really did."
Of course, coming from Stanford and playing back when USC was in the same conference, Phillips had the opportunity to play against the Trojans regularly. So, back in college, Phillips remembers Darnold being as tough as anybody to bring down.
"I remember going against this guy at USC all the time, and I was like... 'this dude is unbelievable,'" Phillips said.
He went on to note that it wasn't until the fourth or fifth time they played one another in college that Phillips was able to sack Darnold. Fast forward to the present day, and Phillips knew it was a special moment when the Vikes signed Darnold to come in and be their starter for at least this season.
"When we signed him, I was really ecstatic," he noted.
Phillips said his friends back home reached out to him about how he felt after Minnesota ended up signing Darnold. At that moment, he knew he'd like his team's chances going forward.
"I like our chances. Sam's a dog," Phillips said.
Well, again, it is early. But Darnold looks every bit of what the Vikings needed under center once Kirk Cousins left. The Vikings may have been questioned for allowing Cousins to leave, but they wound up in great shape with not only Darnold but another future franchise quarterback in J.J. McCarthy.