How Sam Darnold's career year affects J.J. McCarthy, Vikings - ESPN

EAGAN, Minn. — The restoration of Sam Darnold's career truly began on the morning of April 25, 43 days after he signed a one-year free agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings.

It was draft day, and Minnesota was preparing to take a franchise quarterback in the first round. But they viewed Darnold, the No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft, as more than insurance for the rookie, and coach Kevin O'Connell wanted Darnold to hear that directly from the source.

So O'Connell summoned Darnold to his office for a 10:30 a.m. meeting and, for 45 minutes on a time-crunched day, he explained the plan. The Vikings' draft pick (who turned out to be Michigan's J.J. McCarthy at No. 10) would not be rushed onto the field, O'Connell told Darnold.

There were no guarantees of how much Darnold would play in 2024, but O'Connell emphasized what a good fit he thought Darnold was for the Vikings and made clear he could be an important part of the team's success, O'Connell said in an interview with ESPN this summer.

Reserved by nature, Darnold was touched. After blowing through three teams in five seasons, he had landed with a coach and an organization with a plan to rebuild his confidence.

That foundational moment remains instructive, as Darnold — transformed in every way that matters on a football field — leads the 11-2 Vikings into Monday night's game against the Chicago Bears (8:20 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC) in front of a home crowd that has taken to chanting «MVP» when he appears on videoboards.

«He's playing so well,» O'Connell said, «and he's so rooted in the moment.»

IN WHAT WAS already a career-best season, Darnold hit his stride over the past month. He has thrown for 1,158 yards with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions over the past four games. He has