The Minnesota Vikings have dealt with uncertainty at the quarterback position over the past two seasons, and the main reason is the departure of Sam Darnold.
After leading the Vikings to 14 wins during the 2024 season, Minnesota has been left seeing ghosts as Darnold left in free agency and later won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. But his encore hasn’t gone as planned.
The latest chapter came in Thursday’s 17-14 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. Darnold completed just 27-of-51 passes for 278 scoreless yards and a pair of interceptions in the loss, and it included a back-breaking interception to Ja’Quan McMillian that set up Wil Lutz’s game-winning 53-yard field goal.
The last interception resulted in his NFL-high seventh pick of the year, and after leaving the season opener after just five snaps, Darnold has struggled to recreate last year’s magic.
After failing to sign a contract extension last offseason, it has already left his long-term future in Seattle up in the air and could give the Vikings a mulligan that could bring him home in 2027.
Vikings may have their mulligan to bring Sam Darnold back
The Vikings played a key role in Darnold’s path from colossal bust to Super Bowl champion after he revived his career in 2024.
Playing on a one-year contract, Darnold was a perfect fit for Kevin O’Connell’s system, completing 66.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 17 games.
But his time in Minnesota was defined by his final two games, where the Vikings were dominated by the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams to end the season.
With J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings, the Vikings had a clear succession plan to Darnold. But according to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio earlier this year, O’Connell pushed to keep Darnold and even pushed to sign Aaron Rodgers before he was “overruled.”
“I believe that last year, Kevin O’Connell was banging hard on the table to have an accomplished veteran to go along with J.J. McCarthy.
Recognizing that McCarthy wasn’t ready to go out there and be the guy, and that they needed someone else. Whether it was Sam Darnold, whether it was Daniel Jones, whether it was Aaron Rodgers.”
Vikings fans know what happened from there. The Vikings went with McCarthy, who flopped as the team’s quarterback of the future, and Darnold signed with Seattle.
Armed with an elite defense and a scheme that was tailored to his strengths by offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Darnold completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, and hoisted the Lombardi Trophy last February.
But things haven’t gone well for Darnold since. Kubiak left to become head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders and has been replaced by Brian Fleury, who has had growing pains as a first-time play-caller.
The Seahawks also lost star running back Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, and Darnold left the season opener against the New England Patriots after five snaps with a glute injury.
After missing a game due to injury, Darnold has thrown an interception in each of his four games, and his quarterback rating has dropped in each contest from 105.7 in a loss to the Washington Commanders to 52.6 in Thursday’s loss to the Broncos.
Sam Darnold's contract provides an easy path back to the Vikings
This is where things could get interesting for the Vikings. Darnold did not sign an extension last summer after winning the Super Bowl, and his current contract ends after the 2027 season. But the Seahawks could also get out of that contract and save $25.7 million with a cut or trade before June 1, 2027, according to Over The Cap.
With a heralded quarterback class – albeit one that is falling short of expectations this season – Seattle could choose to move on one way or another, and the Vikings could be lining up to get a second chance.
Kyler Murray was signed to stabilize the offense this season. But while he showed signs of progress in last week’s win over the New Orleans Saints, it hasn’t been a clean fit, and he’s signed to a one-year deal.
Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer are also scheduled to be free agents next spring, and it could leave the Vikings quarterback room wide open going into the offseason.
If the Seahawks make Darnold available, O’Connell would likely ask general manager Nolan Teasley to get a deal done. As an assistant GM under John Schneider in Seattle, Teasley may also have a connection to aid a potential trade, bringing Darnold back to the place where he revived his career.
Something that could get in the way is that Darnold has had bad games before, and he’s shaken them off to play at a high level. If Murray takes off coming out of the bye, it may also complicate things should the Vikings believe he can be a multi-year solution.
At this point, it’s more of a watch than a warning. But Darnold’s performance this season could be laying the path for a return to Minnesota.
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