Sam Darnold's Remarkable Super Bowl Ascent
The NFL world is buzzing as Sam Darnold has guided the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl LX, completing a career turnaround that few saw coming. This development caught the attention of former quarterback Robert Griffin III, who took to social media to highlight Darnold's achievement while inadvertently sparking controversy about other quarterbacks' Super Bowl timelines.
Robert Griffin III's Social Media Commentary
Griffin, the former Washington Commanders quarterback turned broadcaster, initially posted a pointed observation about Darnold's accomplishment: "Sam Darnold made it to a Super Bowl before Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, Baker Mayfield and Trevor Lawrence." This statement was factually accurate and resonated because it highlighted how Darnold reached the championship game ahead of several star quarterbacks with impressive credentials.
Josh Allen is the reigning league MVP, Lamar Jackson is a two-time MVP winner, Justin Herbert has been regarded as top-tier talent, Dak Prescott has been an MVP finalist, while Baker Mayfield and Trevor Lawrence were both first overall draft picks. Griffin's own career, which included one Pro Bowl selection before injuries derailed his Washington tenure, added an interesting perspective to his commentary.
The Jared Goff Oversight
However, Griffin's narrative hit a snag when he applied the same framework to New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye after the AFC championship game. Griffin wrote: "Drake Maye made it to a Super Bowl before Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Jared Goff, Dak Prescott, Baker Mayfield and Trevor Lawrence."
Social media users quickly identified the problem: Jared Goff has already started a Super Bowl. Goff quarterbacked the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII against the Patriots at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where New England emerged victorious. While losing quarterbacks often fade from memory, this doesn't change the historical record.
Darnold's Career Transformation
The more significant story is Darnold's journey to this point. According to reports, Seattle represents his fifth NFL team after previous stints that included:
- Being traded by his first team after three seasons
- His second team moving on after just 17 starts
- Signing as a backup with his third team
- Winning games as a starter for his fourth team, only to be replaced by a rookie after two late losses
Now, Darnold stands as the primary reason the Seahawks are NFC champions. In Seattle's 31-27 NFC championship victory over the Rams, Darnold delivered an outstanding performance with 346 passing yards and three touchdowns without any turnovers.
Recognition from Coaches and Legends
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald emphasized Darnold's impact: "You can't talk about the game without talking about our quarterback. He just shut a lot of people up tonight, so I'm really happy for him." Even broadcasting legend Tom Brady acknowledged Seattle's late-game composure with his succinct assessment: "Courageous call."
Darnold's own words reflected his growth and team integration: "I feel that support. Not with only their words but with how everyone treats each other in the building. There's a lot of respect that goes around the building. Everyone respects the work that we all put into this great game and so I'm just happy to be part of this team, man."
When asked about the infamous "seeing ghosts" moment from his Patriots days, where cameras captured his frustration, Darnold responded thoughtfully: "I almost forgot about it. For me, there was a lot that I didn't know back then, so I'm just going to continue to learn and grow in this great game. There's a lot of stuff that I can be better from today, even."
Super Bowl LX Matchup Details
Super Bowl LX will feature the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots, led by quarterback Drake Maye. The game is scheduled for Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. ET at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Broadcast coverage will be provided by NBC, with streaming available on FuboTV and DAZN.
Maye's path to the Super Bowl wasn't smooth in the AFC championship game, where he completed just 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards with no touchdowns and endured five sacks in a snowy victory over the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. Nevertheless, he now has a fresh opportunity on football's biggest stage.
For Darnold, this represents the most significant rewrite of his career narrative, transforming from a quarterback once described as "seeing ghosts" to leading his team to the Super Bowl. The stage is set for what promises to be a compelling championship showdown between two quarterbacks with contrasting journeys to this moment.
