Sam Darnold will be facing his former team, the Minnesota Vikings, in the upcoming game. In 2024, he led the Vikings’ team to a 14–3 season and completely reshaped how people viewed his career, going from being labeled a first-round bust to being seen as a reliable veteran quarterback with outstanding arm talent. 

Now that talent is serving the Seattle Seahawks, who have almost made it to the playoffs, thanks to Darnold leading the offense and contributing to the 8-3 record, while the Vikings suffer from a quarterback problem. When the season ended, the Vikings chose to hand over the football to J.J. McCarthy, while Darnold joined the Seahawks, and his feelings regarding leaving the team show no regret. 

On Friday, just two days before Darnold and the Seahawks face the Vikings at Lumen Field, the quarterback was questioned about whether a return to Minnesota was a possibility for him in the offseason. “I think for me, it was just understanding what was being talked about ... behind closed doors with people over there and my people…But at the end of the day, I made the decision to come [to Seattle], and I’m very, very happy about that decision and excited to continue to work the way that we’ve been working here, and continue to build the relationships in that locker room and with the coaching staff here,” he answered. 

In 2024, Darnold signed a one‑year deal with the Vikings worth up to US $10 million, and when that ended, he signed a 3‑year deal worth about US $100.5 million with the Seahawks in March 2025, and as he said, he is happy with that decision. Making that money worth it for the team, Darnold has recorded a passer rating of 106.2 with 2,785 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 11 games this season. 

Darnold has been so good that even Vikings’ WR and his former teammate, Justin Jefferson, said, “He's definitely balling. It's hard to miss it when the number one receiver (in terms of receiving yards) in the NFL (plays for Seattle). He's been killin' it. Of course, you know, some people will talk about the bad games that he's had, but all in all, he's leading his team to victories, so that's the main thing.” You know you’re doing something right when the opponents praise you. Vikings, on the other hand, are suffering from a QB problem. 

The Vikings' QB problem gets worse against Sam Darnold and Co.

Before the 2025 season, the Vikings had the choice to bring back Darnold, sign Daniel Jones, who finished the season with their locker room after being released by the Giants, acquire Aaron Rodgers, or give the offense to J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft. They chose McCarthy.

Aaron Rodgers has been doing good for the Packers with 1,969 yards, 19 touchdowns, while both Jones and Darnold are leading their teams to the playoffs. Jones has recorded 2,840 yards and 17 touchdowns. While  J.J. McCarthy has 929 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, too low and too bad, things might get worse in the game against the Seahawks. 

McCarthy had been placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol after reporting head-related symptoms, and it would be Max Brosmer who would be the Vikings' starting QB against the Seahawks, someone who has played 3 games but started none and recorded 42 yards. Under normal circumstances, it would have been Carson Wentz, but he injured his left shoulder badly (dislocation, torn labrum, fracture) in early October 2025. 

Wentz kept playing through the pain for a couple of games, but eventually the injury got too serious, and he was put on injured reserve and had season-ending surgery. So, things can go sideways for the Vikings once again. 

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Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Joyita Das