Sam Darnold’s NFL journey has been marked by significant ups and downs, but his recent resurgence has drawn attention as one of the league’s most remarkable turnarounds. Once a highly regarded quarterback drafted by the New York Jets, Darnold’s early career with both the Jets and Carolina Panthers was disappointing. Recently, a former NFL quarterback criticized those teams, arguing their failures contributed to Darnold’s struggles rather than the quarterback being the root of the problem.
Darnold entered the NFL when the Jets selected him as the No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft, hoping he would bring stability to a shaky quarterback position. However, after three seasons marked by inconsistent play, his time in New York was widely seen as unsuccessful. His next opportunity came with the Panthers in 2021, but he only played in 18 games over two seasons, and his future as a starting quarterback appeared bleak.
After serving as a backup for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2023 season, Darnold earned a starting role with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. That season proved transformative, as he threw for a career-high 4,319 yards and guided the team to the playoffs. Darnold’s strong performance helped secure a lucrative contract with the Seattle Seahawks, where he propelled the team into the Super Bowl during his first year.
Chris Simms, a former NFL quarterback turned analyst, shared his perspective on Darnold’s revival, laying blame on the environments of his previous teams rather than his talent.
“When you’re around crap all the time guess what happens? You start to smell like crap and look like crap yourself,”
Simms explained to Simone Eli of PIX11 News.
Darnold’s skillset and everything has been there.
The System, Not the Quarterback, Is the Core Issue, Says Former NFL QB
The Jets and Panthers have each struggled with several quarterbacks over recent years, underscoring the complexity of the issue beyond just Darnold’s performance. Simms emphasized that the real challenge lies in the lack of effective quarterback development within those organizations rather than a shortage of talented players.
“We don’t have a quarterback problem,”
Simms stated.
“We have organizations that don’t know how to develop quarterbacks.”
Simms’s critique highlights the broader difficulties teams face when evaluating and nurturing quarterback talent, a factor that arguably stalled Darnold’s early career progress. His commentary places responsibility on coaching and management deficiencies in shaping a quarterback’s success.
Sam Darnold’s Revival with the Seahawks as They Advance to Super Bowl 60
Since joining the Seattle Seahawks, Darnold has demonstrated consistent improvement. During the 2025 season, he recorded 4,048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, earning his second Pro Bowl nod. Metrics such as PFSN’s QB Impact rated his performance at 78.7, ranking him 13th among 48 qualified quarterbacks.
Darnold’s turnaround has helped bring the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2014. Their previous meeting in the championship that year was against the New England Patriots, where a pivotal interception by Malcolm Butler led to a Patriots victory. The Seahawks won their first Super Bowl in franchise history the year before, in 2013, by beating the Denver Broncos.
Now, Darnold is positioned to establish himself as a franchise cornerstone in Seattle after less than a full season as their starting quarterback. His success story represents not only a personal redemption but also an example of what can happen when talent is matched with a better system and support.
“When you’re around crap all the time guess what happens? You start to smell like crap and look like crap yourself!” 👀🔥@CSimmsQB did NOT mince words on the red carpet today regarding Sam Darnold’s time with the Jets and Panthers…
“We don’t have a QB problem — we have… pic.twitter.com/e2EP9yyFGX
— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) February 4, 2026
