Sam Darnold Leads Seahawks to Super Bowl Victory

Former Jets QB thanks fans for their support during his journey to NFL championship

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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After a breakout season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, Sam Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a Super Bowl championship. Darnold, who was drafted 3rd overall by the New York Jets in 2018, thanked Jets fans for their continued support as he found success with other NFL teams.

Why it matters

Darnold's journey from Jets draft bust to Super Bowl champion is an inspiring story of resilience and perseverance. His message of gratitude to Jets fans who stuck by him shows the lasting impact a fanbase can have on a player's career.

The details

Darnold, who is now in his 8th NFL season, became the first quarterback in league history to win 14 games and throw for 4,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. After an early playoff exit with the Seahawks last year, Darnold capped his debut season in Seattle with a championship. He displayed remarkable resilience and self-belief throughout his career, playing for 5 different NFL teams before finally winning a Super Bowl.

  • Darnold was drafted 3rd overall by the Jets in 2018.
  • He had his best season as a Jet in 2019, throwing for 3,024 yards with 19 TDs and 13 INTs.
  • The Jets bottomed out in 2020, finishing 2-14 and leading to Darnold's trade to the Panthers in 2021.
  • Darnold had a breakout season with the Vikings in 2024 before joining the Seahawks.
  • Darnold led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl and won the championship in 2026.

The players

Sam Darnold

A quarterback who was drafted 3rd overall by the New York Jets in 2018 and is now a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks.

New York Jets

The NFL team that drafted Darnold and gave him his start in the league, despite his rocky tenure with the franchise.

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What they’re saying

“Thank you. That's all you can ask for as a player, is to feel supported. Especially by the team that drafted you.”

— Sam Darnold (FanSided)

“I always look at myself and feel like I could've done a lot more for that franchise when I was there. The fact that [Jets fans] are able to support me even through that means a lot.”

— Sam Darnold (FanSided)

The takeaway

Darnold's journey from Jets draft bust to Super Bowl champion is a testament to the power of resilience and self-belief. His message of gratitude to Jets fans who stuck by him shows the lasting impact a fanbase can have on a player's career, even if they don't find success with the team that drafted them.