Former NY Jets QB Sam Darnold could revitalize his career with Vikings

Darnold has a golden opportunity in Minnesota

Justin Fried

Sam Darnold / Lachlan Cunningham/GettyImages

After a year spent serving as Brock Purdy's primary backup in San Francisco, former NY Jets quarterback Sam Darnold is once again competing for a starting job, this time as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.

And the early indications are that Darnold is not only the favorite to win the job, but that he could start as long as he plays well enough to hold onto the job.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported this past weekend that Darnold is seen as the favorite to win Minnesota's starting quarterback job and that he could end up starting the entire season over rookie J.J. McCarthy.

McCarthy is obviously Minnesota's hand-picked quarterback of the future, and it's a matter of when, not if, he sees the field, but the Vikings have no plans to rush their rookie quarterback onto the field.

Sam Darnold could revitalize his post-NY Jets career in Minnesota

ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported last week that "Darnold has genuine supporters within the building...and there is real hope that he can play credibly enough to avoid the typical pressure to play McCarthy before he is ready."

There is a real chance that Darnold starts most if not all of the 2024 season for the Vikings. His story could be reminiscent of another former Jets quarterback, Geno Smith, who exceeded expectations and made the most of his opportunity in Seattle.

While Darnold may not be the planned long-term solution for the Vikings, he could still earn himself a lot of money and another opportunity with another team if he plays well this season.

Darnold should have an impressive supporting cast to help him out. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones are an excellent skill position group, and while there are some questions about Minnesota's offensive line, Christian Darrisaw is a rock-solid starting left tackle.

Darnold seems to have the support of Minnesota's coaching staff and is expected to be given every opportunity to earn and keep the starting job. This is a golden opportunity for the former No. 3 overall pick to revitalize his career.

Only time will tell if Darnold is able to capitalize on his latest opportunity.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.