1. Samuel Richard Darnold was born on June 5,1997 and is an American professional football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League.
49 Facts About Sam Darnold
1. 2.
Sam Darnold played college football for the USC Trojans, winning the Archie Griffin award in 2016, and was selected third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL draft.
3.
Sam Darnold joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, where he experienced a career resurgence after becoming their starter that year, leading them to a playoff appearance and earning Pro Bowl honors.
4.
Sam Darnold was born in Dana Point, California on June 5,1997.
5.
Sam Darnold attended San Clemente High School in San Clemente, California.
6.
Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass and scored the game-winning two-point conversion, but returned to playing receiver and linebacker a week later.
7.
When he legitimately became the school's quarterback, Sam Darnold broke the school record for the most touchdown passes in a game when he threw five on two occasions.
8.
Sam Darnold missed much of his junior year with a foot injury.
9.
Sam Darnold ended his senior season with 3,000 passing yards and 39 touchdowns, along with 800 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.
10.
Sam Darnold received scholarship offers to play college football from schools like Oregon, Utah, Northwestern and Duke.
11.
In three games as backup quarterback, Sam Darnold saw limited action, completing 14-of-22 passes for two touchdowns and an interception.
12.
The USC offense recorded an average of 37 points and 518 yards per game, while Sam Darnold set the school record for most passing touchdowns by a freshman with 26, ten more than the previous record set by Todd Marinovich in 1989.
13.
Against Arizona and California, Sam Darnold became the first quarterback in school history to record five touchdown passes in consecutive games, while throwing for multiple touchdowns in eight straight games, the first USC quarterback to do so since Matt Leinart did in 2004.
14.
Sam Darnold was named the 2016 Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year in late November.
15.
On January 4,2017, it was announced that Sam Darnold was awarded the Archie Griffin Award, which was awarded annually to college football's most valuable player to his team throughout the season, an award no other freshman had ever won previously.
16.
Sam Darnold was named to the Football Writers Association of America's Freshman All-America team.
17.
Sam Darnold then led an overtime victory over the Texas Longhorns during which he drove the Trojans to a game-tying field goal in the final 39 seconds of regulation.
18.
On January 3,2018, Sam Darnold announced that he would enter the 2018 NFL draft.
19.
Sam Darnold was selected by the New York Jets in the first round, with the third overall selection, of the 2018 NFL Draft.
20.
On July 30,2018, Sam Darnold signed a four-year deal worth $30.25 million fully guaranteed featuring a $20 million signing bonus with the Jets.
21.
Sam Darnold's first pass resulted in an interception returned for a touchdown by Quandre Diggs.
22.
Sam Darnold suffered through a foot injury, which sidelined him and caused Josh McCown to start for the Jets.
23.
Sam Darnold led the team on its game-winning drive, completing a 37-yard pass to Robby Anderson to help set up a touchdown run by Elijah McGuire.
24.
Sam Darnold finished the season with 2,865 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
25.
Sam Darnold was named the American Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
26.
Sam Darnold finished the 2019 season with 3,024 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions and had 33 carries for 62 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
27.
Sam Darnold briefly left the game with a shoulder injury after a sack but was allowed back in the game.
28.
In Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sam Darnold reaggravated his shoulder injury and missed the Jets' next two games.
29.
Sam Darnold made his return in Week 12 against the Dolphins.
30.
Sam Darnold made his first start for the Panthers on September 12,2021, facing his former team, the Jets.
31.
Sam Darnold was placed on injured reserve on November 12,2021.
32.
Sam Darnold substituted Darnold in the second quarter of a Week 16 game against the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
33.
Sam Darnold was named the backup for the 2022 season after losing a preseason competition to new acquisition and 2018 draftmate Baker Mayfield.
34.
On September 1,2022, Sam Darnold was placed on injured reserve.
35.
Sam Darnold was named the starter for the Panthers' Week 12 game against the Broncos.
36.
Sam Darnold threw for 250 yards and a touchdown, while earning a rushing touchdown.
37.
In Week 17 against the division rival Buccaneers, Sam Darnold would throw for 341 yards and 3 touchdowns, with just one interception.
38.
On March 16,2023, Sam Darnold signed a one-year contract with the 49ers.
39.
On March 13,2024, Sam Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings.
40.
Sam Darnold was originally expected to compete with rookie JJ McCarthy for the starting job, but following a season-ending injury to McCarthy in the preseason, Darnold was named the starting quarterback to begin the season.
41.
Sam Darnold completed his first 12 passes and finished the game converting 19-of-24 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
42.
In Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons, Sam Darnold had a career day, finishing with 347 yards and five touchdowns, along with setting the Vikings' single-game passer rating record.
43.
Sam Darnold led another fourth quarter comeback in Week 16 against the Seattle Seahawks, finishing with three touchdowns as the Vikings win streak improved to eight games.
44.
Sam Darnold was named to his first career Pro Bowl.
45.
Sam Darnold earned a nomination for the AP Comeback Player of the Year award, which he lost to Joe Burrow.
46.
On March 13,2025, Sam Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks on a three-year, $100.5 million contract.
47.
Sam Darnold's mother is a physical education teacher at Shorecliffs Middle School.
48.
Sam Darnold has been jokingly nicknamed GEQBUS, a parody of the acronym used for the President of the United States.
49.
Sam Darnold's friends include fellow quarterbacks Josh Allen and Kyle Allen, and the three often train together in the offseason.