Stephen A. Smith Blasts MN Vikings for Darnold Decision… but the Internet Never Forgets

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Sam Darnold, Max Brosmer - Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks
Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

So… Sam Darnold won the Super Bowl last night, a large pill of reality that the Minnesota Vikings and their fanbase are being forced to swallow whole today.

For the last year, we’ve been told Minnesota let Sam walk out the door last offseason because his one standout year in purple was too likely a mirage, rather than something sustainable long-term — though not everyone in the organization was in line with that thought process.

Sam Darnold and Josh Oliver : Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks
Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

But when Darnold fell short late last season vs the Lions and Rams — turning the Vikings’ 2025 cinderella story into a 14-3 regular season pumpkin before they even got to midnight — his doubters used it as certifiable proof that the former No. 3 overall draft pick wasn’t capable of winning big games.

One year later, he’s a Super Bowl champion and the MN Vikings are desperate for quarterback help. Funny how much one NFL season can change a narrative, huh? Well, Monday on First Take (ESPN), Stephen A. Smith wasn’t hearing any excuses about hindsight vs 20-20 vision.

Stephen A. Smith goes off on Minnesota Vikings for choosing Sam Darnold over JJ McCarthy

Instead, the controversial national sports talking head held back zero punches, as he completely undressed the Vikings organization on live TV for allowing Sam Darnold to walk out the door this time last year, in favor of the QB unknown + JJ McCarthy, a decision that ultimately ended in disaster.

In fact, Smith went as far as to say that Kevin O’Connell is lucky to still have his job, after such a horrible decision, and that throwing Darnold to the Wolves because of two bad starts lost them their season and “jeopardized the career of Justin Jefferson.”

“The real answer to this question is the Minnesota Vikings. You didn’t even make the postseason. You got an all-world receiver in Justin Jefferson. You got a brother that ain’t a scrub in Jordan Addison. You got a tight end in TJ Hockenson, OK?

And you gave away your quarterback, to hand the reins to essentially a rookie in JJ McCarthy, who was drafted the year before but didn’t play one game because of the meniscus tear. So basically, his first NFL action was this past year. He was unproven.

And this is after Sam Darnold took you to a 14-2 record, before you lost the season finale and the number one seed and then ultimately a playoff game to the Los Angeles Rams. So two bad games, where you couldn’t protect him and [gave up] 9 sacks to the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs, and you threw them to the Wolves.

You said, ‘to hell with it.’ We want to utilize our money elsewhere. That’s why their GM is gone. He was fired. That’s why Kevin O’Connell no longer should be called the quarterback whisperer. That’s why he’s lucky to have his damn job with that kind of decision.

He’s a damn good coach, and I know that, but I don’t want to hear no quarterback whisperer anymore. Don’t want to hear that. Bottom line is the Minnesota Vikings threw away a football season and jeopardized the career of Justin Jefferson by making the decision that they made.”

Stephen A. Smith – First Take

In a vacuum, you can argue about hindsight or the details over how we got here, but there is little arguing with Stephen A. Smith’s portrayal of last offseason.

Darnold is now a Super Bowl champ who has won 31 of his last 38 NFL games (including playoffs) while throwing for 9300 yards, 66 touchdowns and 27 interceptions over the last two seasons and postseasons, between two different teams.

Good quarterbacks do not grow on trees and the Minnesota Vikings acted last offseason, like they do. And now, we are all paying for it.

Two-faced Smith changing his tune on Sam Darnold?

And while sensible football opinions were difficult to find last offseason, when it came to Darnold’s future, some people were begging Kwesi and KOC to bring Sam Darnold back. If not on a long-term deal, at least via the franchise tag.

But the internet never forgets. And while Stephen A. Smith is talking a big game now, post Darnold championship, a video is now starting to circle from this time last year, when Mr. Smith had a MUCH different take on the Darnold vs McCarthy situation.

After Sam fell off the road late last year, Stephen A. was one of the many sports voices out there who was calling for Minnesota to move on and invest in their second-year first round pick…

“It’s about how much it’s going to cost you. I’m saying you don’t give him (Sam Darnold) $40M. You don’t give him $40M. You go with JJ McCarthy, because how much of a difference will it be.?

Stephen A. Smith – First Take (January, 2025)

Well well well, how the turn tables…

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