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Sam Darnold’s road to the Super Bowl has been long and winding.
Darnold was the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of USC by the New York Jets. He was the No. 2 quarterback behind Baker Mayfield and was part of an epic rookie class at the quarterback position. Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson were also eliminated in the first round.
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold raises the winner’s trophy next to Michael Strahan, left, after a victory against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC NFL Championship football game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Mason Rudolph, Mike White and Luke Falk were also quarterbacks from this draft class who earned starts during their careers.
If anyone takes a look at Darnold’s career over his first eight years, he looks more like a journeyman quarterback than one a franchise was about to bet on. He played three seasons with the Jets before the franchise grew impatient and traded him.
From there, Darnold was with the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. He took the Vikings to the playoffs after a career year and only built on it by signing a three-year contract with Seattle to replace Geno Smith.
Darnold totaled 4,048 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns as Seattle went 14-3 and clinched the first NFL playoff berth.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive end Braden Fiske (55) during the first half of the NFC NFL Championship football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
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He is now the first quarterback from his draft class to appear in the Super Bowl.
“You can’t talk about the game without talking about our quarterback,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said. “He shut up a lot of people tonight, so I’m happy for him.”
Darnold played through an oblique injury and went 25 of 36 for 346 yards with no turnovers.
“I can’t say enough about Sam, man,” Seahawks star Jaxson Smith-Njigba said. “It’s been a great first year. We’ve got one more to go. But so he can get through what he’s had to get through, I ride with Sam all day.”
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold warms up before the NFC NFL Championship football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
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Now, the Seahawks will play Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots.
