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Sam Darnold

Updated: Wikipedia source

Sam Darnold

Samuel Richard Darnold (born June 5, 1997) is an American professional football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, becoming the first freshman to win the Archie Griffin Award. Darnold was selected third overall in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft by the New York Jets, where he spent his first three seasons. After injuries and inconsistent play, Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers, alternating as a starter and backup for two seasons, and spent one season as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers. Darnold had a breakout year in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings when he led them to the playoffs and earned Pro Bowl honors. He joined the Seahawks the following season, leading them to their conference's top seed and a victory in Super Bowl LX while earning a second Pro Bowl selection. Darnold was widely considered a draft bust before signing with the Vikings, and his turnaround to a Super Bowl–winning starting quarterback is regarded as one of the greatest comeback stories in NFL history.

Infobox

Position
Quarterback
Roster status
Active
Born
(1997-06-05) June 5, 1997 Dana Point, California, U .
Listed height
6 ft 3 in (1 m)
Listed weight
225 lb (102 kg)
High school
San Clemente (San Clemente, California)
College
USC (2015–2017)
NFL draft
2018: 1st round, 3rd overall pick
Passing attempts
2,833
Passing completions
1,766
Completion percentage
62 %
TD–INT
123–82
Passing yards
20,431
Passer rating
86
Rushing yards
1,067
Rushing touchdowns
14

Tables

College recruiting information · Early life
Sam Darnold QB
Sam Darnold QB
Name
Sam Darnold QB
Hometown
San Clemente, California
School
San Clemente
Height
6 ft 5 in (1 m)
Weight
215 lb (98 kg)
Commit date
Jul 18, 2014
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    (83)
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    (83)
Name
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    (83)
Overall recruit ranking:
Overall recruit ranking:
Name
Overall recruit ranking:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2015 USC Football Commitment List". Rivals. Retrieved January 2, 2017. "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals . Retrieved January 2, 2017.
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2015 USC Football Commitment List". Rivals. Retrieved January 2, 2017. "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals . Retrieved January 2, 2017.
Name
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2015 USC Football Commitment List". Rivals. Retrieved January 2, 2017. "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals . Retrieved January 2, 2017.
Name
Hometown
School
Height
Weight
Commit date
Sam Darnold QB
San Clemente, California
San Clemente
6 ft 5 in (1 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Jul 18, 2014
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: (83)
Overall recruit ranking:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2015 USC Football Commitment List". Rivals. Retrieved January 2, 2017. "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals . Retrieved January 2, 2017.
Pre-draft measurables · Professional career › Pre-draft
6 ft 3+3⁄8 in (1 m)
6 ft 3+3⁄8 in (1 m)
Height
6 ft 3+3⁄8 in (1 m)
Weight
221 lb (100 kg)
Arm length
31 in (0 m)
Hand span
9+3⁄8 in (0 m)
Wingspan
6 ft 2 in (1 m)
40-yard dash
4 s
10-yard split
1 s
20-yard split
2 s
20-yard shuttle
4 s
Three-cone drill
6 s
Vertical jump
26 in (0 m)
Broad jump
8 ft 9 in (2 m)
All values from NFL Combine
All values from NFL Combine
Height
All values from NFL Combine
Height
Weight
Arm length
Hand span
Wingspan
40-yard dash
10-yard split
20-yard split
20-yard shuttle
Three-cone drill
Vertical jump
Broad jump
6 ft 3+3⁄8 in (1 m)
221 lb (100 kg)
31 in (0 m)
9+3⁄8 in (0 m)
6 ft 2 in (1 m)
4 s
1 s
2 s
4 s
6 s
26 in (0 m)
8 ft 9 in (2 m)
All values from NFL Combine
· Career statistics › NFL
Bold
Bold
Legend
Bold
Legend
Career high
Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Led the league
Bold
Career high
· Career statistics › NFL › Regular season
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
GS
Games
Record
Games
Cmp
Games
Att
Passing
Pct
Passing
Yds
Passing
Y/A
Passing
Lng
Passing
TD
Passing
Int
Passing
Rtg
2018
2018
Year
2018
Team
NYJ
Games
13
Games
13
Games
4–9
Passing
239
Passing
414
Passing
57
Passing
2,865
Passing
6
Passing
76
Passing
17
2019
2019
Year
2019
Team
NYJ
Games
13
Games
13
Games
7–6
Passing
273
Passing
441
Passing
61
Passing
3,024
Passing
6
Passing
92
Passing
19
2020
2020
Year
2020
Team
NYJ
Games
12
Games
12
Games
2–10
Passing
217
Passing
364
Passing
59
Passing
2,208
Passing
6
Passing
69
Passing
9
2021
2021
Year
2021
Team
CAR
Games
12
Games
11
Games
4–7
Passing
243
Passing
406
Passing
59
Passing
2,527
Passing
6
Passing
63
Passing
9
2022
2022
Year
2022
Team
CAR
Games
6
Games
6
Games
4–2
Passing
82
Passing
140
Passing
58
Passing
1,143
Passing
8
Passing
52
Passing
7
2023
2023
Year
2023
Team
SF
Games
10
Games
1
Games
0–1
Passing
28
Passing
46
Passing
60
Passing
297
Passing
6
Passing
48
Passing
2
2024
2024
Year
2024
Team
MIN
Games
17
Games
17
Games
14–3
Passing
361
Passing
545
Passing
66
Passing
4,319
Passing
7
Passing
97T
Passing
35
2025
2025
Year
2025
Team
SEA
Games
17
Games
17
Games
14–3
Passing
323
Passing
477
Passing
67
Passing
4,048
Passing
8
Passing
67
Passing
25
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
100
Games
90
Games
49–41
Games
1,766
Passing
2,833
Passing
62
Passing
20,431
Passing
7
Passing
97T
Passing
123
Passing
82
Year
Team
Games
Passing
Rushing
Sacked
Fumbles
GP
GS
Record
Cmp
Att
Pct
Yds
Y/A
Lng
TD
Int
Rtg
2018
NYJ
13
13
4–9
239
414
57
2,865
6
76
17
2019
NYJ
13
13
7–6
273
441
61
3,024
6
92
19
2020
NYJ
12
12
2–10
217
364
59
2,208
6
69
9
2021
CAR
12
11
4–7
243
406
59
2,527
6
63
9
2022
CAR
6
6
4–2
82
140
58
1,143
8
52
7
2023
SF
10
1
0–1
28
46
60
297
6
48
2
2024
MIN
17
17
14–3
361
545
66
4,319
7
97T
35
2025
SEA
17
17
14–3
323
477
67
4,048
8
67
25
Career
100
90
49–41
1,766
2,833
62
20,431
7
97T
123
82
· Career statistics › NFL › Postseason
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
GS
Games
Record
Games
Cmp
Games
Att
Passing
Pct
Passing
Yds
Passing
Y/A
Passing
Lng
Passing
TD
Passing
Int
Passing
Rtg
2023
2023
Year
2023
Team
SF
Games
0
Games
0
Games
—
Passing
DNP
2024
2024
Year
2024
Team
MIN
Games
1
Games
1
Games
0–1
Passing
25
Passing
40
Passing
62
Passing
245
Passing
6
Passing
26
Passing
1
2025
2025
Year
2025
Team
SEA
Games
3
Games
3
Games
3–0
Passing
56
Passing
91
Passing
61
Passing
672
Passing
7
Passing
51
Passing
5
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
4
Games
4
Games
3–1
Games
81
Passing
131
Passing
61
Passing
917
Passing
7
Passing
51
Passing
6
Passing
1
Year
Team
Games
Passing
Rushing
Sacked
Fumbles
GP
GS
Record
Cmp
Att
Pct
Yds
Y/A
Lng
TD
Int
Rtg
2023
SF
0
0
—
DNP
2024
MIN
1
1
0–1
25
40
62
245
6
26
1
2025
SEA
3
3
3–0
56
91
61
672
7
51
5
Career
4
4
3–1
81
131
61
917
7
51
6
1

References

  1. Tied with Baker Mayfield and Cam Ward.
  2. Pro Football Reference
    https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DarnSa00.htm
  3. New York Daily News
    https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/02/08/sam-darnold-super-bowl-seahawks-patriots-nfl-jets/
  4. ESPN
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47872705/seahawks-stifle-drake-maye-patriots-capture-super-bowl-lx
  5. www
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/seahawks/2026/01/26/sam-darnold-comeback-story-nfl-world-reacts/88356776007
  6. www
    https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/football/seattles-sam-darnold-went-nfl-castoff-super-bowl-qb-rcna256053
  7. Los Angeles Times
    http://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/la-sp-usc-sam-darnold-20160808-snap-story.html
  8. Press Enterprise
    https://www.pressenterprise.com/2017/08/02/how-sam-darnold-became-a-usc-quarterback-4/
  9. Los Angeles Times
    http://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/la-sp-usc-darnold-20161012-snap-story.html
  10. Foxsports
    http://www.foxsports.com/west/story/sam-darnold-made-rose-bowl-magic-star-san-clemente-010317
  11. Orange County Register
    http://www.ocregister.com/articles/darnold-739221-usc-team.html
  12. Rivals
    https://web.archive.org/web/20161107155011/https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/9107
  13. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/pac12/2017/04/22/sam-darnold-usc-recruitment/100747236/
  14. Reign of Troy
    https://web.archive.org/web/20161107154934/http://reignoftroy.com/2014/07/18/usc-football-recruiting-sam-darnold-commitment-announcement/
  15. Los Angeles Daily News
    https://www.dailynews.com/2015/09/07/usc-freshman-quarterback-sam-darnold-looks-to-2016/
  16. USC Trojans Athletics
    https://usctrojans.com/news/2016/8/20/Max_Browne_Named_USC_s_Starting_Quarterback?path=football
  17. Los Angeles Times
    http://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/la-sp-usc-quarterbacks-change-20160919-snap-htmlstory.html
  18. Los Angeles Daily News
    http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20160923/usc-qb-sam-darnold-overcomes-everything-but-poor-coaching-decisions
  19. Chicago Tribune
    http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-college-football-roundup-spt-20161112-story.html
  20. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2016-10-01-southern-california.html
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2016-10-01-southern-california.html
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