Breaking down the amazing Sam Darnold bobblehead

No one is higher on Sam Darnold than his hometown of San Clemente, California. The town recently immortalized the rookie New York Jets quarterback by creating his very own bobblehead.

San Clemente, California is a town of 63,000 people located midway between Los Angeles and San Diego. The town’s biggest claim to fame? Being the hometown of New York Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold.

Every time Darnold takes the field for an NFL game you can expect the local sports bars to be packed with his fans and supporters. One Eleven Coastal is just one of the local restaurants that hosts watch parties for the Jets preseason games.

San Clemente has found another way to show pride for their hometown hero: creating a bobblehead of the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft.

More from The Jet Press

• NY Jets: Why the team should target cornerback Shaquill Griffin
• NY Jets reportedly non-tendering linebacker Harvey Langi
• NY Jets: Why the team should not cut Jamison Crowder
• NY Jets should try to sign Kenny Golladay in free agency
• NY Jets: Jonnu Smith would be a smart free-agent target

According to an article by ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the bobblehead features Darnold in his old San Clemente High jersey, No. 18. It costs $20 (proceeds go to the football program) and it arrives in a box that refers to him as “San Clemente’s Hometown Hero.”

Darnold’s reaction when he saw his bobblehead?

“The hair on the bobblehead actually looks a little bit better than mine in real life, so I give them props on that. I think it looks like me. They did a pretty good job. It’s really cool to see kind of the buzz that goes around these bobbleheads floating around the whole city of San Clemente.”

In many people’s eyes, you haven’t made it as a professional athlete until you have your own bobblehead.

If you walk around San Clemente you’re likely to see the bobblehead version of Darnold. They can be found throughout San Clemente High. Even the principal has one. There’s also one next to the 2016 state championship trophy. Although Darnold wasn’t on that state championship team, he helped pave the way according to San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears in an article written by Orange County Register:

“You can’t put it into words, it’s an amazing feeling. The guys before me paved the way. I was just glad I could carry the torch to help this team get there.”

San Clemente officially became part of Gang Green when Darnold was drafted by the Jets on April 26th of this year.

“We have a lot of overnight Jets fans,” Justin Rider, owner at One Eleven Coastal, said. “People are so incredibly proud of Sam making the NFL in such a class fashion — third overall pick.” (via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com)

As the regular season draws closer the buzz around who will start under center for the Jets gets louder. No matter who starts Week 1 for the Jets, San Clemente is confident Darnold will continue to make them proud as he begins his NFL career.