Why Sam Darnold Left the Vikings to Play for the Seahawks

Sam Darnold is playing in the 2026 Super Bowl today as the quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, and his story is definitely an interesting one.

The 28-year-old QB was actually a backup quarterback for a few years after being traded away from the New York Jets. He eventually landed with the Vikings, who drafted a rookie QB in 2024, J.J. McCarthy. J.J., however, suffered a season-ending injury and could not play.

Sam took over as the starter for the Vikings in the 2024 season, and had a strong showing.