Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold is a quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. Darnold had his breakout season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, earning Pro Bowl honors and leading the team to a 14-3 record while throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Darnold spent his first three pro seasons as a starter with the New York Jets after being the 3rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was also a primary starter for the Carolina Panthers from 2021-22 before playing in a backup role for the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers in 2023.

Darnold was a two-sport athlete at San Clemente High School, playing football and basketball. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was recruited to USC and joined the football team. After redshirting his freshman year, he served as the second-string quarterback in 2016 before being named the starter after three games. As a redshirt freshman starter, he set multiple USC freshman records, led the Trojans to eight consecutive wins, and won the 2017 Rose Bowl.

On January 4, 2017, it was announced that Darnold was awarded the Archie Griffin Award, which is awarded annually to college football's most valuable player to his team throughout the season, an award no other freshman had ever won previously. Darnold was also named to the Football Writers Association of America's Freshman All-America team.