Sam Darnold thanks New York fans for their Super Bowl support

Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl LX after beating the New England Patriots 29-13. It’s been a long road for Darnold, who started his career on the rocks with New York Jets. On Tuesday, the eight-year veteran sent a chilling message to New York fans.

While speaking with members of the media, Darnold thanked Jets fans to support him in Super Bowl LX, according to Justin Fried of FanSided. He admitted he wished he could have done more for the franchise, but was generally grateful the fans were rooting for him en route to a Super Bowl victory.

“Thank you,” Darnold said … “I always look at myself and feel like I could have done a lot more for that franchise … The fact that (Jets fans) can support me even through that means a lot.”

I asked Sam Darnold if he had a message #Jets fans who continued to support him:

“Thank you.”

“I always look at myself and feel like I could have done a lot more for that franchise.

“The fact that (Jets fans) can support me even through that means a lot. pic.twitter.com/AtOsbghHJN

— Justin Fried (@JustinTFried) February 10, 2026

Sam Darnold, who is 28 years old, began his NFL career with the Jets in 2018. After playing for the franchise for three seasons, the organization went in a different direction, leading him to play for two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He then appeared in 10 games for the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 before leaving for the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings are where Darnold seemingly turned it around. After JJ McCarthy was ruled out of the 2024-25 season due to injury, Named after Sam Darnold starter and led Minnesota to the playoffs. He also earned the first Pro Bowl nod of his career.

However, after his one-year stint with the Vikings, the Seahawks swooped in and signed Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract. His first season in Seattle was a huge success, as he played a key role in helping the team win its second Super Bowl in franchise history.

Darnold went from seeing ghosts in New York to winning a Super Bowl ring. It’s undoubtedly an incredible turnaround considering how early it was in his NFL career.