Why Jets fans should be rooting for Sam Darnold (yes, really)

I get it. As a New York Jets fan, it's easy to find the negative in just about every scenario. It's easy to feel attacked by just about everything. And it's easy to be cynical just about always.

In 2018, the Jets selected a quarterback third overall. He was a big, strong-armed gunslinger out of USC. His name was Sam Darnold, and he ultimately failed with the Jets. Whether you blame former head coach Adam Gase, mononucleosis, or ghosts he saw in New England, the result is inarguable — his tenure was a failure.

That former third overall pick wasn't done in the NFL yet, however. In fact, as of today, he's one game away from the Super Bowl. He made it here in a roundabout way, ending up in Carolina, San Francisco, and Minnesota before he ultimately found his possible long-term home in Seattle.

Darnold is enjoying so much success and more accolades than anyone predicted after he flamed out in New York. So, shouldn't Jets fans be cheering for his downfall? Shouldn't Jets fans root against this comeback story, as it comes at their expense?

I get it. I can see why fans would feel that way. But I'm here to tell you that it's okay to cheer for Sam Darnold, even as a Jets fan.

Jets fans may feel weird rooting for Sam Darnold, but they shouldn't feel wrong

When Darnold arrived in New York, he was just a kid. He was 21 years old when he made his Monday Night debut against the Detroit Lions in a game that featured a pick-six on his first pass. He bounced back, though, leading the Jets to an easy victory over the Lions. This comeback, in many ways, was a microcosm of his career.

Aside from Joe Namath, essentially every Jets quarterback has ultimately failed. Whether it was a flashy offseason acquisition like Brett Favre, a reclamation story like Ryan Fitzpatrick, or a draft pick hindered by injury like Chad Pennington, none have left with success. Darnold is far from alone in that respect.

And any Jets fans who watched all of his games know there are a few unequivocal truths about Darnold's on-field play. One is that he is tough as nails. Another is that you never have to question his effort. A third is that his actual talent was abundantly clear.

With regard to who Darnold was off the field, there are some inarguable facts as well. For one, he was always a team leader, never putting himself ahead of the greater good. Another is that he always handled himself with class and dignity. A third is that he never once complained about an organization that constantly put him in positions to fail.

Whether it's Christian Hackenberg opining on his lack of coaching, Zach Wilson acting like a fool throughout his tenure, or Aaron Rodgers taking cheap shots at the franchise unnecessarily after leaving, plenty of failed Jets QBs handled their own debacle with a noted lack of class. Sam Darnold has not.

In every interview he's ever done since leaving New York, he has praised the franchise. He doesn't have to do this. He is an incredibly talented quarterback whose first league employer granted him no favors. Any interviewer would understand his gripe, and any audience would give him a pass for off-colored remarks about the Jets.

He never took the bait, though. From the moment he stepped upon the draft stage to shake commissioner Roger Goodell's hand to today, he has been a model citizen. He would be well within his rights to eviscerate the Jets. But he never has and never will.

Most failed Jets quarterbacks don't get a second wind like this, especially the ones drafted by the franchise. Mark Sanchez never had a second act, and neither has Zach Wilson. Darnold is in an incredibly rare position with a unique opportunity.

As a Jets fan, I wish he were doing all this in New York. I wish he were shining on the world's biggest stage. But he's not, and that is far from all due to his own faults.

So, while it may hurt to watch a homegrown product excel elsewhere, and it definitely hurts worse to see him go to the Super Bowl, Sam Darnold has earned our support. How can you not root for a guy like Sam?

On Sunday, when he hosts his division rival, the Los Angeles Rams, for the right to compete for a Lombardi Trophy, I'll be cheering for his success. I'll be rooting for a culmination of his hard work. I've watched him since he was a young man entering his 20's, and now I get to see him at his ultimate peak as he nears 30.

As a Jets fan, despite my football trauma and bitterness, I'll be in Sam Darnold's corner on Sunday. And as a Jets fan, it's okay for you to be too.