The Sam Darnold experience for the Minnesota Vikings was a fun one in 2024. He was a renaissance for the Vikings, making the Pro Bowl while throwing for over 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns, leading the Vikings to 14 wins in the season. 

That element didn't translate on Monday night, as they lost 27-9 to the Los Angeles Rams to end their season. Darnold was brutal on the day, being sacked nine times, which tied an NFL playoff record and set a record with 82 yards lost due to sacks. Not all of that is on Darnold, but considering every one of those sacks came after 3.2 seconds and eight of them on four-man rushes, there is a significant amount of blame that Darnold can shoulder.

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Kevin O'Connell reflects on Sam Darnold's tenure

After a playoff loss to end the season, the press conferences can be very emotional and it was no different with head coach Kevin O'Connell. He was emotional in talking about this group and that extended to Darnold.

“I think it's important that we look at it really two ways. Football wise; playing the position of quarterback and areas that we can really focus on to improve. Areas as an offense where we can pick our quarterback up with a little bit of execution and give them another click when it is a four-man rush. Whatever it is, we've got to find a way to look at it from that standpoint.

"But also, I just want to say I think it's very important we all think about Sam's body of work. What he was able to do this year when not very many people thought he would even be able to lead a team to 14 wins. Very rare for a quarterback in the first year. In fact, it is rare. Most wins by a first-year quarterback with a team. Just the way he came in and committed himself to just a daily process to be the best version of himself.

"It did not work out in the end, and I think Sam would be the first one to tell you, could he have played better tonight? I'm sure he would tell you that he could have. Could I have coached better? I promise you I could have. Could our team have rallied around a play here or there to try to keep that thing competitive? For sure, but the other phase of it for Sam is acknowledging the things that made him a winning quarterback this year, the consistency of the times he had it throughout the year and what that meant for our team. Because I think that can stay with him moving forward as he goes back to work. I'm proud of him. I’m proud of really everybody in that locker room, but Sam and the journey him and I went on this year will always be something that's a special place in my heart for sure.” 

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It's a long winded answer from O'Connell talking about the last two weeks, but I do believe the core of it is this: O'Connell is proud of this team and Darnold specifically, but there wasn't a sense that Darnold was going to be retained. 

The biggest area with Darnold was taking sacks, nine of the 57 sacks he took this season came on Monday night.

"Those moments where you're holding that ball and your reaction is to try to make a play—we can't talk out of both sides of our mouth because he sure as heck made a lot of plays doing that this year, but I think that's part of the growth. Remember this guy's 27 years old or whatever he is, and I think he has a foundation now of both the things you do at the quarterback position to have success and the things that sometimes you have to learn the hard way. You talk to some of the greatest players that ever played the game at that position, and they all had learning moments throughout their journey. I think Sam will take a lot of positive out of this year, and I think he'll look like we all will. Very much inward, what's the next step and what's the next phase for him to find that consistency. I'm going to do the same thing and I still feel there's so many ways I could be better for this team. (I'm) so fortunate to have this group, this coaching staff, and that's what we're going to do.” 

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This season was special and something that O'Connell has talked about for the majority of the season. He has truly loved working with Darnold and taking this team to new heights. 

Where do things go from here? In the moment, O'Connell didn't get asked, nor did he answer whether or not Darnold or J.J. McCarthy would be the guy next year.

That is a conversation for another day, and one we will get into extensively. This day is for reflecting on the season and that is what O'Connell is doing.

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