The 2018 NFL Draft is widely regarded as one of the most quarterback-rich classes in modern football history. When scouts and analysts look back at that year's talent pool, names like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Baker Mayfield immediately dominate the conversation. Each has collected impressive individual hardware—MVP awards, Rookie of the Year honors, and Pro Bowl selections. Yet in a stunning twist of fate, it's Sam Darnold, the often-overlooked third overall pick, who has become the first quarterback from that celebrated class to earn a starting shot at Super Bowl glory.
Darnold's path to championship contention reads like a redemption story scripted for Hollywood. Selected by the New York Jets as the third pick in 2018, right behind Mayfield and running back Saquon Barkley, the USC product arrived with franchise-savior expectations. The California native possessed all the physical tools and intangibles that scouts covet, but his early career trajectory quickly veered into troubled waters.
Three turbulent seasons in New York exposed Darnold to the harsh realities of professional football. Hampered by injuries and plagued by inconsistent play, he compiled a discouraging 21-35 record as a starter. The Jets' organizational instability and lack of supporting talent didn't help his development, and by 2021, the franchise that once bet its future on him had moved on.
A trade to the Carolina Panthers offered a fresh start, but fate intervened with cruel irony. Darnold lost his starting job in his second season—to none other than Baker Mayfield, the very quarterback drafted ahead of him four years earlier. It seemed Darnold was destined to become a cautionary tale, a talented player who couldn't quite put it together at the highest level.
The 2023 season found Darnold in a backup role with the San Francisco 49ers, where he started just one game but earned a front-row seat to a Super Bowl run. Though he didn't play in the big game, the experience proved invaluable. He watched Brock Purdy navigate the pressures of championship-level football, absorbing lessons that would soon serve him well.
At 27 years old, Darnold's career reached an inflection point when he signed with the Minnesota Vikings for the 2024 campaign. When rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a long-term injury in training camp, Darnold unexpectedly received the keys to the offense. What followed was nothing short of a revelation.
Leading a talented Vikings roster, Darnold posted a stellar 14-3 regular season record, shattering expectations and silencing doubters. His performance earned him Comeback Player of the Year consideration and demonstrated that his talent had never truly disappeared—it had simply needed the right environment to flourish. Despite a disappointing playoff exit at the hands of Matthew Stafford's Rams, Darnold had officially announced his return.
But the true magic happened when Darnold took his talents to Seattle. In a rare display of consecutive-year excellence, he once again guided his team to a 14-3 regular season mark, securing the NFC's top seed. The Seahawks' playoff run showcased a quarterback playing with supreme confidence and precision.
In a dominant 41-6 demolition of his former 49ers team in the divisional round, Darnold efficiently completed 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. The performance was clinical—he managed the game perfectly while his defense feasted. However, it was the NFC Championship Game that cemented his transformation from journeyman to elite signal-caller.
Facing the same Rams team that had ended his Vikings season, Darnold delivered a masterclass in revenge. He carved up Los Angeles' defense for 346 yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-36 passing, making clutch throw after clutch throw in a nail-biting victory. The win didn't just send Seattle to the Super Bowl—it validated every ounce of potential scouts had seen in him six years earlier.
The irony of Darnold's ascent isn't lost on football observers. Baker Mayfield, the 2018 Rookie of the Year who supplanted him in Carolina, has never advanced beyond the divisional round. His individual success hasn't translated to January dominance.
Josh Allen, the seventh overall selection and reigning 2024 NFL MVP, stands as arguably the league's most physically gifted player. His rocket arm and rushing prowess have made him a fantasy football darling and Buffalo's franchise cornerstone. Yet despite multiple conference championship appearances, Allen remains winless in AFC title games, watching Super Bowl dreams crumble in heartbreaking fashion.
Lamar Jackson, the draft's 32nd pick and two-time MVP winner (2019 and 2023), revolutionized the quarterback position with his electrifying running ability and improved passing. His regular-season brilliance is undeniable, but he's reached the AFC Championship Game just once, falling short of the ultimate goal.
Meanwhile, Darnold—the quarterback with the least decorated resume among his peers—stands alone as the class of 2018's first Super Bowl starter. His 28-6 combined record over the past two regular seasons tells the story of a player who has found not just stability, but excellence.
What explains this dramatic turnaround? The answer lies in a combination of factors. Darnold finally landed in offensive systems that accentuated his strengths—play-action passing, quick decisions, and a strong running game. He benefited from superior coaching, improved offensive line play, and weapons that could create separation. Perhaps most importantly, he matured mentally, learning to process defenses faster and limit the costly mistakes that plagued his early career.
The narrative surrounding Darnold has completely flipped. No longer the bust or the journeyman, he's become the embodiment of perseverance and late-blooming talent. His journey serves as a reminder that quarterback development isn't always linear, and that situation and support system matter enormously in a player's success.
As Darnold prepares for the biggest game of his life, the football world will be watching to see if he can complete his improbable journey with a championship. Win or lose, his presence on football's grandest stage represents a victory for patience, resilience, and second chances.
The 2018 draft class will forever be remembered for its depth and star power. But while his peers continue chasing individual accolades and playoff breakthroughs, Sam Darnold has already achieved something they haven't—he's given himself a shot at immortality. In a league that often prioritizes flash over substance, Darnold's methodical ascent proves that sometimes, the tortoise really does beat the hare.