Justin Jefferson expressed his belief that the Minnesota Vikings would have had a more successful season had they retained quarterback Sam Darnold instead of drafting J.J. McCarthy. Darnold, who has led the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl after a strong season, posted impressive stats compared to McCarthy's struggles, which included 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 games. Jefferson recalled their previous year together, suggesting familiarity with the team dynamics and playbook could have yielded better results for the Vikings. Despite the Vikings finishing 9-8 in 2025, Jefferson is proud of Darnold's success and wishes him the best in the upcoming Super Bowl.

By the Numbers
  • Darnold threw for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns this season.
  • McCarthy completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
State of Play
  • Darnold is competing in the Super Bowl with the Seahawks after leading them to a 14-3 record.
  • McCarthy showed late-season improvement but ultimately couldn't match the play of Darnold.
What's Next

As Darnold heads into Super Bowl LX, the Vikings will likely reassess their quarterback situation for future success. Meanwhile, Jefferson's comments may influence discussions around team dynamics and offensive strategies heading into the next season.

Bottom Line

Jefferson's reflections underscore the importance of quarterback stability and performance for team success, emphasizing that past choices in recruitment can have lasting impacts on a franchise's trajectory.