Kevin O’Connell all but reveals Sam Darnold’s Vikings fate after playoff disaster

Anyone who was banging the table for the Minnesota Vikings to keep Sam Darnold installed as their franchise quarterback in the immediate future may still be licking their wounds after the last two weeks. After blowing the No. 1 seed by going 18-41 against the Lions, Darnold bottomed out against the Los Angeles Rams in the postseason.

In what may be his final game with the Vikings, Darnold turned the ball over twice (one of which was returned for a touchdown) and was sacked a preposterous nine times in a 27-9 loss. Darnold’s chances of returning to Minnesota has slipped away in stunning style.

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Rams | Brooke Sutton/GettyImages

Anyone who was banging the table for the Minnesota Vikings to keep Sam Darnold installed as their franchise quarterback in the immediate future may still be licking their wounds after the last two weeks. After blowing the No. 1 seed by going 18-41 against the Lions, Darnold bottomed out against the Los Angeles Rams in the postseason.

In what may be his final game with the Vikings, Darnold turned the ball over twice (one of which was returned for a touchdown) and was sacked a preposterous nine times in a 27-9 loss. Darnold’s chances of returning to Minnesota has slipped away in stunning style.

The Vikings already have their succession plan lined up, as No. 10 overall pick JJ McCarthy should be ready to go once he recovers from knee surgery. Based on the latest quotes from Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, it sounds like Darnold’s time in Minnesota is coming to an end.

“It did not work out in the end,” O’Connell said after praising Darnold’s work to get his team to 14 wins this season. “I think Sam would be the first one to tell you, could he have played better tonight? I’m sure he would tell you he could have. Could I have coached better? I’m positive I could have.”

Sam Darnold’s Vikings fate revealed after untimely playoff struggles

Darnold threw for 4,315 yards and 35 touchdowns against 12 interceptions this season. That production will likely net him a contract that approaches the $40 million per year range, similar to what other mid-tier quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith earned on the open market.

Teams should have concerns about signing Darnold. Not only was he in a high-end offensive scheme, but his menagerie of pass-catchers included Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson. Would any other QB-needy team be able to offer him that same level of comfort?

Teams like the Giants, Raiders, and Titans could all make an effort at signing Darnold. They all need new quarterbacks after a brutal 2024 season, and a weak NFL Draft class might make it tough for them to land a game-changing player at that position. Darnold could be music to their ears.

The Vikings would need a tremendous performance from Darnold to abandon their long-term plan centered around McCarthy. While it looked like that could have been a real possibility after a sparkling 2024 campaign, Darnold’s quick regression to the mean has illustrated that he remains exactly what many doubters thought he was.