Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has opened up about the difficult decision to let quarterback Sam Darnold depart in free agency, acknowledging that the move has led to some restless nights of reflection. While not expressing outright regret, Adofo-Mensah conceded that watching Darnold lead the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl berth this season has prompted deep introspection.
The Weight of NFL Decisions
'You spend a lot of those nights, obviously, you're up in these decisions and they're uncertain,' Adofo-Mensah told reporters during a Thursday press conference. 'You're trying to make sure you don't lock yourself into what you did and thinking that it's always right.'
The Vikings executive elaborated on the mental process behind such franchise-altering choices, explaining: 'So there are nights you wake up and stare at the ceiling and ask yourself… I always go back to the process and what we thought at the time. It's easier to kind of go and be revisionist and result-based.'
Standing by the Process
Despite Darnold's remarkable success with Seattle, Adofo-Mensah maintains confidence in Minnesota's original evaluation. 'I still understand why we did what we did. The results maybe didn't play out the way we wanted them to, but ultimately, I think at the end of the day we could have executed in certain places.'
This candid admission has resonated with many Vikings supporters, even those who remain critical of the decision to commit to 23-year-old JJ McCarthy over Darnold in 2025. McCarthy led Minnesota to a 9-8 season despite the team boasting a top-rated defensive unit.
Fan Reaction and Quarterback Legacy
One fan captured the mixed sentiment on social media, writing: 'Solid answer, pretty candid actually. Still doesn't absolve him from letting a guy that went 14-3 with a contending roster walk for essentially a rookie. Waste of a year.'
Darnold's journey to Super Bowl contention represents one of the NFL's most compelling redemption stories. Remarkably, he will be starting in the championship game before fellow 2018 draft classmates Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, having taken five teams and eight seasons to reach this pinnacle.
Seattle's Super Bowl Run
This season, Darnold has been instrumental in Seattle's success, leading the Seahawks to a 14-3 record, a division title, and the NFC's number one seed. His performance peaked during the NFC championship game, where despite an oblique injury, he threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in Seattle's 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald praised his quarterback's resilience: 'He just shut a lot of people up. Really happy for him.' This statement acknowledges the skepticism that followed Darnold throughout his career, even after his impressive turnaround.
From Vikings Revival to Seahawks Success
Darnold's resurgence began in Minnesota during the 2024 season, where he thrived under coach Kevin O'Connell's system. His breakthrough campaign saw him throw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns while achieving a 102.5 passer rating, leading the Vikings to 14 victories.
Ironically, it was McCarthy's injury in 2024 that initially created the opportunity for Darnold to showcase his talents in Minneapolis. Despite this success, Minnesota's front office ultimately chose to build around their younger quarterback prospect.
Historic Achievement
Based on his performance with the Vikings, the Seahawks invested in Darnold with a three-year, $100.5 million contract to replace Geno Smith. This move has proven historic, as Darnold became the first quarterback in NFL history to lead two different teams to 14-win seasons in consecutive years—an accomplishment even Tom Brady didn't achieve during his Patriots tenure.
Seahawks All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba expressed the team's confidence in their quarterback: 'We believe in him. The building believes in him. The city believes in him. It's awesome to run out onto the field with him.'
Personal Growth and Future Focus
Darnold's journey represents remarkable personal development since his early career struggles, most famously encapsulated by his 'seeing ghosts' comment during a difficult loss to the Patriots in his second season.
Reflecting on his growth, Darnold shared: 'There was a lot that I didn't know back then, so I'm just going to continue to learn and grow in this great game. There is a lot of stuff that I can get better from today even. I feel like I missed some throws out there that I shouldn't miss.'
Even after securing an NFC championship, the quarterback maintains his improvement mindset: 'There were some things offensively that I feel like we can do better. So, we're always looking to get better. I'm always looking to get better. That's the great part about this game is you win an NFC championship and you win games throughout the season, but there is always ways that you can look to get better.'
