QB Sam Darnold Wins Super Bowl Championship in San Francisco

Darnold revived his career as 49ers backup before leading team to title

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Quarterback Sam Darnold won the Super Bowl championship with the San Francisco 49ers, delivering the capstone of his NFL career in the same place where he recently revived it as a backup to Brock Purdy two seasons ago.

Why it matters

Darnold's journey from struggling young QB to Super Bowl champion highlights the 49ers' ability to develop talent and the resilience required to overcome career setbacks in the NFL.

The details

After serving as the 49ers' backup quarterback in 2024, Darnold stepped in as the starter this season when Purdy was injured, leading the team to the Super Bowl title.

  • Darnold was the 49ers' backup QB in the 2024 season.
  • Darnold took over as the starting QB in 2025 after Brock Purdy's injury.

The players

Sam Darnold

The quarterback who won the Super Bowl championship with the San Francisco 49ers after reviving his career as their backup in 2024.

Brock Purdy

The 49ers' starting quarterback in 2024 whom Darnold backed up before taking over as the starter in 2025.

San Francisco 49ers

The NFL team that Darnold joined in 2024, where he was able to revive his career before leading them to a Super Bowl championship.

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The takeaway

Darnold's journey from struggling young QB to Super Bowl champion with the 49ers demonstrates the value of patience, perseverance, and the right coaching environment in reviving an NFL career.