It’s time to officially take the “bust” label, douse it in lighter fluid, and flick the match.
After Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks edged out the Rams to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl, one of the biggest storylines this week has been centered around one word…”redemption”. This Sunday, Darnold isn’t just playing for a ring; he’s doing what the “golden boys” of his generation and the legends of his alma mater never could.
The Class of 2018: A New Hierarchy
The 2018 NFL Draft was billed as the class that would redefine the league. While it delivered on the hype, the pecking order has been flipped on its head:
- Lamar Jackson & Josh Allen: They have the MVPs and the highlight reels, but they’re watching this Sunday from the couch. Lamar’s playoff struggles and Allen’s late-season heartbreaks have kept the “elite” duo stuck in the lobby of the Super Bowl.
- Baker Mayfield: He found his spark in Tampa Bay, sure, but he’s still waiting for a deep January run that actually lands him on the final stage.
- Josh Rosen: The 10th overall pick is currently hitting the books at Wharton, trading playbooks for spreadsheets as he prepares for a career in banking.
Then there’s Darnold. After being cast aside by the Jets and Panthers, he was rejuvenated in Minnesota, and then cashed in with Seattle this season. By leading the Seahawks to the No. 1 seed and their first NFC West title since 2020, he’s officially the first QB of this legendary class to reach the mountain top.
© Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images
Breaking the USC Curse
Perhaps more shocking than Darnold’s career resurgence is the history he’s about to rewrite for Southern Cal. Despite the Trojans being a factory for NFL talent, the “Quarterback U” pipeline has famously dried up at the Super Bowl gates.
From Carson Palmer to Matt Leinart, Mark Sanchez and Matt Cassel, no former USC quarterback has ever started a Super Bowl.
When the ball is snapped this Sunday, Sam Darnold becomes the first USC signal-caller in history to lead his team into a Super Bowl.
The Final Step
Darnold has spent years being the punchline of “seeing ghosts” and draft-day regrets. Now, he’s the one haunting the rest of the league. One more win, and the guy everyone gave up on could go legend.
