Please do not compare Sam Darnold to Trent Dilfer

It’s fair to say that the media at large does not know what to say about Sam Darnold now that he is a Super Bowl champion. Which is understandable because who could ever see something like that coming?

Darnold looked destined to be a bust through the first six years of his NFL career. There was nothing he did that validated the New York Jets’ decision to take him with the No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft. There was little to suggest he would do anything else except bounce around from team to team as a serviceable backup.

Then he broke out in 2024, leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 record while throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Undeterred by Minnesota’s disinterest in signing up for more, all Darnold did last season was post another 4,000-yard season while completing 67.7 percent of his passes and lead his team to the sport’s ultimate prize. By the way, without ever looking like the moment was too big for him.

The Big Lead founder Jason McIntyre, filling in for Colin Cowherd on The Herd Thursday, certainly said something that sent viewers to Football Reference with breakneck speed.

“We’re a little irrationally high on Sam Darnold,” McIntyre proclaimed. “I think the best comparison for him is Trent Dilfer.”

Now, much like Dilfer did on the Super Bowl-winning Baltimore Ravens team in 2001, Darnold certainly benefitted from his team’s elite defense and special teams. Neither guy will go down as an all-time great but share a common bond in playing the most important position in sports to a level that allowed their organization to win it all.

But they are nothing alike as players.

Over the past two seasons Darnold has thrown for 8,367 yards with 60 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. Dilfer posted 113 against 129 picks in his 13-year NFL career. Dilfer completed 55.5 percent of his passes and Darnold has raised his lifetime percentage all the way to 62.5. Throw a dart in any direction on each guy’s ledger and there is going to be a marked difference in terms of production.

If numbers aren’t your thing, sit back and do a quick eye test. There is no way you’d conclude these two are even modestly congruent. Simply put, Darnold can win a shootout at any time and change the game. Dilfer was far, far more managerial.

It’s late-August and we’re counting the days until real football. So there’s no shade on my end for a pundit wanting to think outside the box. This take, however, is out of this world.

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