Darnold and Allen were drafted together in 2018, with Darnold taken third overall by the New York Jets and Allen selected seventh by the Bills. Darnold’s early NFL years in New York were rocky, posting a 13-25 record over three seasons before being traded to Carolina in 2021, where he later lost the starting job in 2022 to Baker Mayfield.
After stints as a backup with the 49ers in 2023, Darnold joined Minnesota on a one-year deal in 2024. With first-round pick J.J. McCarthy sidelined by a preseason injury, Darnold started every game for the Vikings and helped them to a 14-3 record, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.
This offseason, Seattle finalized a three-year, $100.5 million contract to bring Darnold to the Seahawks, securing a high-profile reunion and a potential playoff-caliber quarterback option for the franchise in the coming years.
Allen, by contrast, has spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the Bills since 2018 and has risen to become one of the league’s top quarterbacks since 2020. His decision to back Darnold in Super Bowl LX underscores the unexpected, long arc of both players’ careers.
The clash in Super Bowl LX thus features an unusual subplot: a veteran quarterback following the trajectory of a former peer who survived early career adversity to reach the game’s biggest stage. Allen’s rooting interest highlights how rivalries and friendships intersect in the NFL’s annual championship showcase.
