On the field, in front of the cameras, it was with the Vikings that Sam Darnold relaunched his career in 2024. To the point of leaving Minnesota in the playoffs and being the most coveted free agent this month of March 2025.
But it was a little before his visit to the Violets that the click took place.
In 2023 Darnold spent a year on the San Francisco 49ers bench. A decisive year. In particular thanks to a teammate that he did not hesitate to salute during his presentation press point as a new Seahawks quarterback.
“I learned tons of things in New York. Tons of things in Carolina. Obviously in San Francisco with Clint (Kubiak) it was huge. And I thank Brock very much. BROCK PURDY. For his style of play and the way he described it to me: we have tons of super players in this attack, my job is just to be the playmaker, put the ball in their hands and let them do incredible things with.
When I started to change my way of thinking as a quarterback, telling myself that I just had to put the ball in the hands of my guys, it's a bit of the moment when things unlocked a little for me. And then obviously the coaching I had in Minnesota. It was an incredible experience. »»
After a third-position selection of the Draft and five years of career, the course of Sam Darnold was therefore turned upside down by a non-drafted quarterback which played its second year in the NFL. Brock Purdy has changed the fate of the 49ers, but also that of the Vikings, and perhaps Seahawks.
Sam Darnold must still prove things
If the story is beautiful, there is still a doubt. Last season, Sam Darnold started very hard. He launched 35 touchdowns on his first 16 games. But only 1 in the last two games, the most important of the year.
A very complicated end of the campaign that will have to be forgotten.
“I think I was taking unnecessary sacks last year, especially in the last games“, He said on Thursday. “” I will think about it, to keep two hands on the ball in the pocket permanently. Doing the fundamental little things, but what is very important is to launch the ball in time. »»
And we come back to the San Francisco episode. Because if Darnold chose Seattle, it is partly because he will find Clint Kubiak, attacking coordinator in Seattle, with whom he worked during his season with the 49ers. Kubiak was then coordinator of the passing game.
