Seahawks' Sam Darnold first quarterback in star-studded 2018 draft class to reach Super Bowl

The Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 thanks to Sam Darnold’s 346 yards and 3 TDs, and will face off with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Colin Cowherd gives Sam Darnold a lot of credit for turning his career around and l...

Sam Darnold’s journey to a Super Bowl has been a long and winding one.

Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft out of USC by the New York Jets. He was the second quarterback taken behind Baker Mayfield and was a part of an epic rookie class at the quarterback position. Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson were also taken in the first round.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold lifts the winner's trophy next to Michael Strahan, left, after a win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)

Mason Rudolph, Mike White and Luke Falk were also quarterbacks from that draft class that earned starts during their careers.

If anyone took a peek at Darnold’s career through his first eight years, it reads more like a journeyman quarterback rather than one that a franchise was about to bet on. He played three seasons with the Jets before the franchise grew impatient and traded him away.

From there, Darnold was on the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. He took the Vikings to the playoffs after a career year and only built up on it when he signed a three-year deal with Seattle to replace Geno Smith.

Darnold had 4,048 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns as Seattle went 14-3 and earned the top seed in the NFL playoffs.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams