Sam Darnold’s journey in the NFL has taken a remarkable turn with the Minnesota Vikings this season, and former quarterback Jordan Palmer believes he knows exactly why.
Speaking about Darnold’s greatest strength, Palmer mentioned something that often goes unnoticed: his steadfast commitment to improvement, even in the face of intense media scrutiny and career setbacks.
Palmer, who has worked extensively with Darnold as his consultant, recently shared insights into their collaborative relationship.
“The biggest thing for him that I’ve seen is that in all of those years of kinda getting punched in the gut, media and teams and traded and all that, I just never saw him cut a corner. I’ve never had this guy show up 15 minutes late, have to bail early. I’ve just never seen it,” Palmer said on “The Herd.” “… The fact that his appraoch hasn’t changed, I think, is really actually like a superpower. Your willingness to buy in, find individual things to get better at, is the superpower.”
.@JwPalms tells @ColinCowherd why Sam Darnold is flourishing:
“I never saw him cut a corner… The fact this his approach hasn’t changed I think is a superpower.” pic.twitter.com/4TisAyMAeq
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) January 2, 2025
Their partnership has centered around continuous evaluation and refinement of Darnold’s game.
This season provided a perfect example of this dedication when Darnold identified a specific weakness during the bye week: his struggles with out-breaking routes to the right.
Rather than glossing over the issue, he tackled it directly, working on the mechanical aspects of these throws.
The results were clear when he returned, showing marked improvement in an area that previously challenged him.
This commitment to growth has paid off spectacularly. Darnold has led the Vikings to an impressive 14-2 record, earning his first Pro Bowl selection along the way.
His numbers tell a compelling story: a 68.1 percent completion percentage, 4,153 passing yards and 35 touchdowns.
But beyond the statistics, Darnold has emerged as the cornerstone of the Vikings’ success, possibly steering them to the NFC North title and the conference’s top seed.
NEXT: Colin Cowherd Reveals What The Vikings Should Do With J.J. McCarthy
