Skip to main content
Join

Troy Aikman measures impact of last two weeks on Sam Darnold, Vikings future

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•01/13/25•

griffin_mcveigh

Sam Darnold
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)

Throughout the season, Sam Darnold was one of the best stories in football. His resurgence with the Minnesota Vikings had them in position to find postseason success. But the past two weeks have been anything but good, losing in two winner-take-all type atmospheres, and crashing out in the Wild Card round.

And just like that, the flip on Darnold’s future has flipped. ESPN’s Troy Aikman believes Darnold will be affected by his play when attempting to find a new deal this offseason. Whether it’s with Minnesota or another team, poor performances could not have come at a worse time.

“These last 2 weeks will have a big impact on his future,” Aikman said. “Not only what that may look like for the Minnesota Vikings, but a big impact on what that may look like for him going to another team. Is there going to be the big payout that looked inevitable a few weeks ago?

“It may not be as big as what Sam or others thought. These are the games that matter. He knows that, every quarterback in this league knows that. When you get into these games, that’s what you’re judged on.”

Darnold completed 25 of 40 throws on Monday night against Los Angeles, throwing for 245 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. You can add a fumble in there too, one the Rams picked up and returned for a touchdown.

Minnesota would have not even been playing this weekend had they beat Detroit the week before. But offensive struggles were the Week 18 storyline too as Darnold was a poor 18 for 41 with 166 yards. The Lions rolled, won the NFC North, and earned the No. 1 seed plus a bye.

Plenty of positives came out of this season for Darnold, currently being the Comeback Player of the Year favorite. Aikman knows how important performing in the postseason is, though. More than anything, Arnold will be judged on the past two games.

“It doesn’t really matter that you win 14 games,” Aikman said. “Not that you got to go win the Super Bowl because one team gets to do that. But when you don’t even win a playoff game, you’re lumped in with all the teams, really, that didn’t make the postseason. So, this is a tough one.”