Vikings' Sam Darnold Reunion Exposes Costly Miscalculation
Sam Darnold thrives in Seattle while Minnesota struggles after betting on rookie J.J. McCarthy, reflecting a decision that backfired for the Vikings.
Sam Darnold returns to face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13—a homecoming that underscores a franchise decision that has spectacularly backfired.
The Vikings let Darnold walk in the offseason after he led them to a 14-win season and earned Pro Bowl honors, betting instead on 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. The gamble has cratered. Seattle sits at 8-3 while Minnesota limps along at 4-7, a four-game swing that tells the entire story.
A Decision in Ruins
Terry Bradshaw didn't mince words on FOX NFL Kickoff, dissecting Minnesota's quarterback miscalculation:
"What we failed to realize is that this is [McCarthy's first] year [starting], and it takes a while. I don't care who or where you're playing, it takes a while, and I think McCarthy's not quite ready. And I do believe—and I said this from the very beginning—I thought that Darnold should've stayed at least one more year while they made sure they had their backup. But he wanted the money, and he left, and good for him."
The Numbers Don't Lie
Darnold's 2024 season with Minnesota was career-defining:
- 4,319 passing yards
- 35 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions
- 102.5 passer rating
- 66.2% completion percentage
Yet the Vikings abandoned him after two underwhelming playoff performances—Darnold completed just 43.9% of his passes in a Week 18 loss to Detroit that would have clinched the NFC North and the No. 1 seed. Minnesota scored a meager nine points in that game and again in its wild-card loss to the Rams.
Darnold's Revenge Season
Now thriving in Seattle on a three-year, $100.5 million deal, Darnold is posting career-best numbers through 11 games:
- 2,785 passing yards
- 19 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions
- 106.2 passer rating
- 69.5% completion percentage
McCarthy's Struggle
Meanwhile, McCarthy—the cornerstone of Minnesota's future—has been a disaster. The rookie missed his entire first season with a preseason meniscus tear. This year, he's appeared in just six games, currently sidelined by a concussion and won't play Week 13. His stats are damning:
- 57.9 passer rating
- 54.1% completion percentage
- 10 interceptions
The Vikings sit 3.5 games out of the third wild-card seed, their season in free fall.
Darnold and Seattle host Minnesota at 4:05 p.m. ET on FOX.
