After putting together the season of his life with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, veteran quarterback Sam Darnold was rewarded with a lucrative, multi-year contract from the Seattle Seahawks earlier this offseason.
It wasn't hard to tell that Darnold was enjoying every moment with the Vikings last year, and during a recent appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show", he reflected on his lone season in purple and gold.
"It was just a special team to be a part of. Even from the beginning, you know, people not necessarily thinking we're gonna be a great team, and for us to just be able to [win 14 games].
Like I continue to mention, we took it one day at a time, and that was really the theme of the last year, and that's kind of been my theme throughout my entire journey."
Specifically, Darnold described the rowdy locker room celebration after Minnesota's Week 17 win over the Green Bay Packers last season as "a special moment," and "something I'll never forget."
Can Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold continue to succeed as he did with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024?
No one will argue against last season being the best of Darnold's NFL career, especially since most assumed his chances of starting in the league were pretty much over after fizzling out with both the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers when he first entered the NFL.
Despite Darnold's struggles, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell felt the veteran quarterback still had the talent to lead an offense successfully. Thankfully, O'Connell turned out to be right, as Darnold went on to help Minnesota win 14 games last season by throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.
This year, he'll have to quiet his doubters all over again. With the Seahawks, now Darnold will have to prove that he can still perform at a high level without having O'Connell by his side and in his ear on every play.
It likely won't go as well as it did in 2024, but the confidence that Darnold re-discovered last season should be a big help during his new adventure in Seattle.