Tony Vegas summed up a popular sentiment with the post: “If Sam Darnold prevents the Patriots from winning a Super Bowl, I’d argue he was worth the #3 pick in 2018 for the Jets.” The remark reflects how Darnold’s legacy has shifted from the infamous draft position to a narrative of vindication.
Eric Nathan of Barstool Sports joined the conversation with a pointed take: “We all owe Sam Darnold an apology. It wasn’t him. It was the Jets. I am sorry Sam.” The comment underscores the frustration and shifting blame many fans directed at the organization in Darnold’s early years.
Joel Moran offered a broader, inspirational arc: “The story of Sam Darnold is inspiring: Jets traded him. Panthers let him walk. 49ers had him as a backup. Vikings won 14 games & weren’t sold. Now he’s one win away from being a Super Bowl champion. Sometimes all you need is someone to believe in you. Seahawks did.” Moran’s thread highlighted the long journey and the role of organizational belief in unlocking Darnold’s potential.
The piece revisits the Jets’ handling of Darnold, describing it as a “frustrating failure” in hindsight. Former general manager Joe Douglas vowed to protect Darnold with better protection and playmakers, a promise Douglas says he tried to fulfill, though the article argues the Jets lacked the infrastructure to evaluate Darnold properly at the time.
It also notes how Seattle’s current setup contrasts with what Darnold faced in New York. The Jets have since improved their line play and surrounding talent, including Garrett Wilson at receiver and a productive backfield presence in Breece Hall, who remains a pending free agent. The piece questions what Darnold might have achieved with that group in Jets green.
For Jets fans, the matchup also invites a rooting question: who to cheer for when Darnold faces his old AFC rivals? The narrative threads—applause for Darnold’s late-blooming success, and reflection on what the Jets could have built differently—sit at the heart of the debate as the Seahawks chase a Super Bowl title.
