Sam Darnold Appreciates Jets Fans After Super Bowl Win

Sam Darnold expressed his gratitude to Jets fans for their ongoing support following a challenging beginning to his career and a recent Super Bowl victory with the Seahawks.

During a promotional event at Raising Cane’s in Seattle on Tuesday, he reflected on Jets fans who cheered for Seattle during their 29-13 Super Bowl win against the Patriots. When asked about his message to those supporters, Darnold said, “You always want to feel supported as a player, especially by the team that drafted me. I often feel like I could have done more when I was with that franchise, so their support now really means a lot.”

Darnold, who was the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, experienced three tough seasons with the Jets before being traded to the Panthers in 2021.

His comeback began in earnest after a year as a backup with the 49ers in 2023, and he then found success with the Vikings and, ultimately, the Seahawks, leading to a Super Bowl win in 2026. Over the last two seasons, he has achieved a remarkable record of 28 wins and 6 losses in regular-season play, throwing for 4,048 yards along with 25 touchdowns this year alone.

On Tuesday, Darnold appeared to be quite popular, as he made his way out of the restaurant to a crowd of cheering fans, giving him a taste of rock star status in Seattle. In a noteworthy moment, police and security had to intervene to help clear the area around his car so he could leave without disruptions.

Just the day prior, he had celebrated by riding a float at Disneyland alongside teammate Kenneth Walker III, the Super Bowl MVP.

A wave of “Seahawks” chants erupted as Darnold made his way through the parking lot.