Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) warms up prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

Sam Darnold’s Revenge Tour: The Blunder The Vikings Can’t Undo

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Levi Omeke | Last updated Jan 21, 2026 8:55 AM ET

The Minnesota Vikings made a huge mistake by letting the Seattle Seahawks and former quarterback Sam Darnold go. Minnesota had the chemistry right with Darnold and head coach Kevin O’Connell.

At the very least, the Vikings should have franchise- tagged Darnold to see if he could replicate his success. They would have been a playoff team , but instead, they had a ragtag crew of quarterbacks- Carson Wentz, JJ McCarthy, and Max Brosner- throughout the season.

A Case For The Game-Manager

Darnold might not be great, but he is a good NFL QB. The Vikings were 7-10 in 2023 and went 14-3 in 2024 with him at the helm. The Seahawks were 10-7 in 2024 and went 14-3 with Darnold this season.

The NFL is starting to shift away from the team with the best quarterback winning games to the best team that has a QB who doesn’t lose games. Buffalo Bills Josh Allen and Kansas City Chiefs Pat Mahomes are the best quarterbacks, and their teams are at home. It is more important to have a competent QB and a great team around them.

Organizational competence is paramount to optimizing the performance of a player. For instance, a strong environment has helped players like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and the San Francisco 49ers backup QB Mac Jones. They reached a level of efficiency similar to their initial projections when they played under the right conditions.

Darnold’s year is exactly what happens when coaching, system fit, and quarterback maturity finally sync. The talent was always there; the growth in decision-making and confidence is the real story.

End Of My Sam Darnold Rant

Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is interview by Fox Sports Erin Andrews following an NFC Divisional Round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

One thing about Darnold that needs to be cleared up is that many people will criticize the New York Jets for getting rid of him. They have no idea how to develop quarterbacks. Their system has spelled doom for QB’s forever.

The Vikings are the team that deserves much more criticism. Sam won 14 games in Minnesota, and they decided to let him walk and hand the keys to McCarthy.

Vikings fans really have it rough. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wanted to play in Minnesota. The Steelers won the NFC North. Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, taken one pick after McCarthy, led his team to the AFC Championship. Darnold led the Seahawks to the NFC Championship game and is one game away from the Super Bowl.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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