“We would’ve done better”: Justin Jefferson’s comments reignite Vikings QB what-if as Sam Darnold shines away from Minnesota | NFL News
Sam Darnold sits at the center of a debate Minnesota never planned to revisit, yet Justin Jefferson brought it roaring back into focus. The Vikings star wide receiver openly questioned whether the franchise’s recent direction at quarterback cost them a Super Bowl chance, and his words cut through a season filled with uncertainty and missed margins. When asked if Minnesota could have gone further with Darnold still in purple, Jefferson offered no hesitation, only clarity.“Yeah, for sure. Definitely,” Jefferson said in a recent interview with USA Today.That answer lands heavily in a city still processing a 9-8 finish, a playoff miss, and the stunning firing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah just months after his extension. Meanwhile, Darnold is preparing for Super Bowl LX, thriving in Seattle, far removed from the stopgap role he once held in Minnesota.
Justin Jefferson subtly weighs in on Vikings quarterback decision as Sam Darnold dominates with Seahawks
The question of why Minnesota moved on from Sam Darnold starts with timing and ends with consequence. Darnold arrived as insurance while rookie J.J. McCarthy recovered from knee surgery. When McCarthy went down for the season, Darnold steadied the offense, delivered over 4,300 passing yards, tossed 35 touchdowns, earned a Pro Bowl nod, and guided the Vikings to a 14-3 record in 2024. It was the most complete stretch of his career and one of the league’s most efficient offenses.Still, the long-term plan never shifted. Minnesota handed the offense to McCarthy in 2025, and the stability vanished. Injuries and uneven play forced Carson Wentz and rookie Max Brosmer into extended action. The offense slipped from ninth to 26th in scoring. Even a late five-game surge could not erase earlier damage, and the Vikings fell short when the stakes peaked.Jefferson framed the issue as familiarity, not blame.“Everyone knows the difficulty of the quarterback position this year, of how we were dealt it,” Jefferson said. “But having a quarterback that already had a season under his belt with us, knew the plays, knew the playbook, knew the players — throwing to me, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, all these guys — I definitely feel like we would have done better. But it is what it is. It’s on to new and better things, but I’m definitely happy and proud for him that he was able to reach it this year.“Seattle chose continuity. The Seahawks signed Darnold to a three-year deal, watched him earn another Pro Bowl selection, and rode that trust to a franchise-record 14 wins. After the NFC Championship, Darnold deflected praise toward his teammates.“It’s amazing, to be able to do it with these guys though, in this locker room, with this coaching staff, that’s why it means the world to me,” Darnold said. “I take it one day at a time, every single day, and like I said, to be able to do it with these guys out here, this locker room, it’s a special group, and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”For Jefferson, watching that success stings, even as pride outweighs regret.“It’s definitely tough. It’s tough to watch,” Jefferson said. “I love that he’s in the Super Bowl. I’m happy for him, I want nothing but the best for him, especially the way his journey was at first, people doubting him and people not giving him the respect. Now they’re giving him the respect. Now they’re seeing that he’s a top-tier quarterback in this league. Of course, selfishly I wish he had done that for us last year, but to see him blossom and bounce back right after last year and make it this year, I’m happy for him and I hope he wins.“Seattle enters Super Bowl LX as 4.5-point favorites over New England. Minnesota, meanwhile, is left with an answer it never wanted to hear spoken aloud.
