LAS VEGAS — When Sam Darnold was drafted in 2018, he spoke about going to the Super Bowl.
He made it.
Of course, this is a little different than how he envisioned things then. The Jets drafted him No. 3 overall and he spoke about ending the Jets’ title drought, but he was traded after three disappointing seasons. Now, he’s Brock Purdy’s backup with the 49ers and he is preparing for Super Bowl 2024.
“Obviously, I wish things would have gone different. … I wish we would have won more, obviously,” Darnold said Monday about his time with the Jets.
Darnold experienced three losing seasons with the Jets.
He was traded in 2021 to the Panthers when the Jets decided to move on and draft Zach Wilson.
After two years with the Panthers, he signed with the 49ers this offseason to be a backup.
While Darnold’s time with the Jets is remembered for more bad than good, he said he still looks back fondly at his Jets days.
“Obviously, it was an experience that I’ll never ever take for granted,” Darnold said. “To be able to go through the ups, go through the downs with that organization and with those coaches, with those guys, you tend to remember most of the good moments that you have. Obviously, a lot of people can bring up some of the bad ones sometimes.”
He thought he would be the one to put a second Lombardi Trophy in the Jets’ trophy case.
“I always envisioned going deep in the playoffs with New York and being able to make a run at the Super Bowl,” Darnold said. “Obviously, that’s what you dream of as a kid. Right when I got drafted by the Jets, and still to this day it’s my goal to be able to bring a championship somewhere. At the same time, you kind of understand what it takes, even in the backup role like I am right now you understand what it takes to actually make it here and actually get it done and not just dream of it and envision it. It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice.”
Darnold will be a free agent in a month. He said he still wants to be a starter but he is valuing his time helping the 49ers try to win a title.
This week, that means mimicking Patrick Mahomes in practice.
“As a competitor, you always want to play football,” Darnold said. “Obviously, there are different ways to be able to help the team. During the week, I play scout team and try to get the defense ready for Pat Mahomes and everything that Chiefs offense does. That part is fun for me.”
And if he has to play on Sunday?
“Obviously, we want Brock to stay healthy and stay on the field,” Darnold said, “but if my time does come, I’m very confident in myself to be able to go out there and do my job.”
