“He’s here to stay!” – Sam Darnold getting the wildest reception in Vikings’ locker room after tight win over Packers has fans going crazy

Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold has thrown for 4,153 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 picks with 106.4 passer rating.

“He’s here to stay!” – Sam Darnold getting the wildest reception in Vikings’ locker room after tight win over Packers has fans going crazy

Sam Darnold (Image via Vikings)

The Minnesota Vikings head into Week 18 of the NFL regular season with a number one seed opportunity available to play for. The Vikings have won fourteen games, only losing to the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions in successive games. Leading the Skol throughout the season has been former New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold.

Sam Darnold experienced limited success earlier in his career before joining the Vikings. Drafted in 2018, he served as the starting quarterback for the New York Jets for three seasons. In 2021, he transitioned to the Carolina Panthers, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. Darnold had 51 starts in six seasons and had a losing record of 20-35.

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However, Darnold has improved in his current stint. He has led the Vikings to fourteen wins in sixteen games while registering the best numbers in his career. Darnold has 4153 passing yards while throwing for 35 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. He has a QBR of 63.5, the thirteenth-best in the league.

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Following his stellar performance in a thrilling 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sam Darnold entered the home locker room at U.S. Bank Stadium to an exuberant reception from his Vikings teammates.

Water bottles were poured over him, and Harrison Phillips, along with others, lifted him into the air in celebration. The team broke into a rendition of “Many Men” by 50 Cent, the unofficial anthem of their remarkable 14-2 season. The scene showcased the overwhelming admiration and support for Darnold in the locker room.

Sam Darnold joined the Vikings as a free agent with a one-year contract. Darnold’s ascent to the zenith has many teams carving a spot for Darnold to boost their squads with an experienced but not overly old quarterback.

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Sam Darnold becomes a fan favorite after leading the Vikings to a potential number-one seed-clinching game

Quarterback Sam Darnold delivered an exceptional performance for the Vikings, achieving a career-high 377 passing yards and three touchdowns while completing 33 of 43 pass attempts against Packers.

Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold (Image via Imago)

On Sunday, Darnold exceeded 4,000 passing yards for the season and recorded his 35th passing touchdown, tying him with Kirk Cousins for the second-most in a single season in Vikings history. His touchdown passes to Jalen Nailor, Jordan Addison, and Cam Akers marked his sixth game with three or more passing touchdowns for Minnesota.

Football fans and analysts argue that the Vikings should continue to groom JJ McCarthy while extending Sam Darnold long-term. On the other hand, there are also users who want to trade away McCarthy. There’s also concern considering McCarthy’s continued injury and rehabilitation.

Certain users were quick to compare Sam Darnold’s career arc in New York Jets and Carolina Panthers to the Minnesota Vikings.

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The Minnesota Vikings, long plagued by the absence of a face finally have a quarterback who’s loved by the fans. The Vikings, after all, can extend his contract and recruit his help in developing JJ McCarthy and easing him into leading the signal calling. As of now, they are yet to confirm whether they’ll trade either Darnold or McCarthy or keep Darnold for the long run.