Entering their game last week against the New York Giants, there was understandable pessimism surrounding Darnold. As the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the 27-year-old is widely considered a huge bust.

Kyle Shanahan still loves Sam Darnold

However, more optimistic Vikings fans hoped that his failure in New York was more a symptom of his surroundings, than it was his abilities. He showed some signs of a career turnaround while in San Francisco, and continued that last week.

Also Read: Where do the Minnesota Vikings land on the latest NFL offense rankings?

Darnold didn’t look like a bust in week one, vs the Giants. That may be much more difficult to do on Sunday, against a very tough 49ers defense. His former head coach believes the Vikings have a hidden gem, leading the offense in 2024.

#49ers HC Kyle Shanahan loves #Vikings QB Sam Darnold and what he brought to the team last season when he played there.

Shanahan had HIGH praise for Darnold and how much he improved week to week last season.

“Loved having Sam here, he was an awesome guy. He’s been that way… pic.twitter.com/XsPc8C3FKk

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) September 13, 2024

“Loved having Sam here, he was an awesome guy. He’s been that way everywhere he’s been. And we found it out personally here … But always liked Sam before he got here. Just his talent level from college and what you’d seen in the NFL was exactly as good as advertised. He’s such a good athlete, so tough, and can make any throw. I thought he got better throughout the year.”

Minnesota Vikings are a great spot for Darnold

The 49ers head coach claims Sam Darnold was “so detailed in what he did” and worked hard to “try to pick stuff up.” Shanahan confirmed he misses Sam in San Fran. He clearly feels strongly that Darnold left the Niners as a better QB than when he got there.

When Sam Darnold landed with the Minnesota Vikings, the hope was Kevin O’Connell could take Darnold’s game to new heights. So far, that’s looking like a pretty good possibility. He was hoping to bring the QB back have some back luck in free agency and return to San Francisco.

“Yeah, I thought it was a real good spot for him. And I was happy for him. I was hoping he’d find no good spots and come back here. But I was happy for him. He got this opportunity because Sam more than deserves it. Sam is a starting quarterback in this league and he should run with it.”

Kyle Shanahan on Sam Darnold’s fit in Minnesota

Also Read: Get a rundown of Sam Darnold and the Vikings NFL stats ahead of Week 2

Related: NFC Wildcard Round Proved Vikings Need to Bring Kirk Cousins Back

All game long, Love looked like the next coming of Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers, probably a combination of the two. All Minnesota Vikings fans could do was look on and wonder what the next decade is going to be like if that really does come to fruition.

Jordan Love ain't real
pic.twitter.com/99puEk9Djn

— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 21, 2024

Kyle Shanahan wishing he had Kirk Cousins instead of Brock Purdy tonight

Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers were riding the struggle bus offensively all game long and the problem was clear. It was Brock Purdy. He couldn’t hang onto the football or hit wide open receivers.

And it didn’t matter how many YPC Christian McCaffrey was averaging, Kyle Shanahan is who he is… and that’s a pass-happy play-caller, just like everyone who has fallen from the Shanahan tree, including Vikings head coach, Kevin O’Connell.

Name your Shanahan disciple, McVay, Shanahan, O’Connell… they all love to call passing plays, no matter how well their running backs are playing. And on Saturday night, Brock Purdy was not good enough to operate that type of offense.

Brock Purdy facing his first adversity in WEEKS pic.twitter.com/KFzOyVRPSl

— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) January 21, 2024

Which brings us back to the Minnesota Vikings, who are getting ready to sit down at the negotiating table with their quarterback since 2018, Kirk Cousins. In case you haven’t heard, there’s one head coach in the NFL who might like Kirk more than KOC and his name rhymes with Smile Kanahan.

Read More: Kyle Shanahan Explains His Love For Kirk Cousins in 49ers Press Conference

He coaches the same 49ers team whose quarterback nearly lost them another playoff game Saturday night. For a lot of this game, it sure felt like San Francisco’s season was going to be over and that they’d be on the hunt for a QB who could get them over the hump. A QB like Kirk Cousins.

Jordan Love goes full Brett Favre…

But then, the unpredictable world of sports took over and some weird shit happened. That’s why we love sports, right? The 49ers drove down and finally took the lead, late in the 4th quarter with just 1:06 remaining in the game. It felt like the moment Jordan Love would be knighted as the next great NFL quarterback.

Everything leading up to the Packers last drive would have made any right-minded fan feel that way. Instead, Love went full 2009-10 NFC Championship Game Brett Favre across the body, “It can’t end like this” and threw a game-sealing interception that ended Green Bay’s season and kept Mike Shanahan and the 49ers away from Kirk Cousins for at least one more week.

It’s crazy how similar these throws are. I’m getting PTSD from it. pic.twitter.com/qvXkI2LxbF

— 10,000 Takes (@10k_Takes) January 21, 2024

So instead of worrying about the San Francisco 49ers coming for Kirk Cousins, we can celebrate Jordan Love not yet being what Green Bay Packers fans thought he was. Sports have a funny way of surprising you like that.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Can Sign Cousins, Jefferson and Hunter Without Breaking Salary Cap Bank

The San Francisco 49ers moved heaven and earth to climb up nine positions into the #3 overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft. The trade included their 1st rounder this year (#12 overall) and two more future 1st’s. But when asked about the trade and Kyle Shanahan’s ongoing search for his “prototypical” QB, Kirk Cousins’ name came up (again).

Shanahan has been linked to Kirk Cousins since he coached him in Washington and then tried to woo him to San Francisco before his GM, John Lynch, completing a trade with the Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo instead. Then, Cousins landed with the Vikings the next offseason and the rest is history from there. So is Kirk Kyle Shanahan’s “prototypical QB”?

Shanahan laughed at the thought, knowing how far Kirk falls short of what anyone would paint as a “prototypical QB”, if allowed to assemble one in a QB factory. But the 49er head coach did admit his affection for Cousins. He also confirme his once-upon-a-time plan to pursue Kirk back in 2018. In fact, Shanahan went as far to say he “loves Kirk”, just before turning to Lynch and mumbling “I know I’m not supposed to talk about other players”.

Here’s the entire exchange with the important part transcribed below.

Kyle Shanahan Still Dealing w/ Kirk Cousins Envy

Kyle’s *full* comments on Kirk pic.twitter.com/hU9gdcgZlz

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) March 29, 2021

“To say that my prototypical guy is someone like Kirk Cousins.. I mean, that’s just… everyone knows my history with Kirk. We drafted him in the 4th round in Washington. I got to coach him for three games. Umm, we were fired, I left, I thought we’d have a chance to get him here in free agency and I would have loved to have him in free agency until Jimmy came along the year before. Because I thought we could have won with him, just like Minnesota has.

I think Kirk does a good job for every team he plays for every year. There’s a number of quarterbacks like that. That’s the only one I’ve been associated with and people thought that I was trying to bring him here, which I was at the time. It’s not because that’s how you draw it up. If you’re going to draw it up, you’re going to draw the biggest, fastest, strongest and best quarterback in the pocket. So, I think that’s pretty ridiculous to say that [Kirk is my prototypical QB] but I’ll also tell you I love Kirk…

[Turns to GM John Lynch]

…I know I’m not allowed to talk about other players but hey, Kirk’s a hell of a player and a lot of people would be lucky to have a player like that.”

Kyle Shanahan answering a question on Kirk Cousins being his “prototypical QB”

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Just when we thought the Kirk Cousins trade rumors were over, a new week has milled in a fresh batch that includes a WHOPPER involving the Minnesota Vikings QB. Reportedly, per checkmark Evan Massey, the San Francisco 49ers are “looking to make a move” on a QB and Cousins is a name to “keep an eye on”.

Should Spielman and Co be open to wheeling and dealing #8, Massey claims San Fran “will push hard to acquire him”.

#49ers still looking to make a move at QB. Kirk Cousins, I'm told, is a name to keep an eye on. If #Vikings are open to dealing, San Francisco will push hard to acquire him. Ties with Shanahan make this an intriguing potential fit.

— Evan Massey (@massey_evan) February 1, 2021

I’m yet to see this rumor confirmed elsewhere but it just dropped and Massey has some street-cred (and a checkmark). I’ll keep an eye out for any supporting or contradictory reports.

Shanahan + Cousins = Love

But look, I (along with just about everyone else who cares) have always been intrigued with the Niners as potential trade partners for the Vikings, should they ever want to deal away Kirk Cousins. Why? Their head coach, Kyle Shanahan, loves him and coached him in Washington.

Shanahan’s desire to roster Kirk will dictate the legitimacy of this “move” the 49ers are “looking to make”. If they want to give up a couple of those draft picks stocked up in San Francisco’s gold mines, then I’m sure Rick Spielman would be happy to pick up the phone and listen.

Trade Kirk now or never.

Remember, ditching Kirk Cousins via trade (before March 20) is the only easy way for the the Minnesota Vikings to slip out of his contract without having to worry about massive cap penalties or guaranteed money for 2022 and beyond.

Trading Cousins now would create a clean breakup that costs the Vikings $20 million in dead cap for this season alone, and then allow them to move on.

If legitimate, we’ll soon find out just how much Mike Zimmer likes Kirk Cousins.

Side note: this 3-team trade proposed on Twitter was created by God, to make the world a better place.

Trade:

49ers receive: kirk Cousins

Vikings receive Deshaun Watson

Texans Receive: Jimmy G+ Vikings 2021 14 ovr, 2022 12 ovr + Vikings 2022 2rd + 49ers 2022 1st.

????????

— PadrinhosFa (@PadrinhosFA) February 1, 2021

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

On Friday’s episode of #MSFDaily – LIVE, Eric and Seth are joined by Sanka again because we are previewing Vikings vs 49ers in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs on Saturday!

SPOILER: Don’t always trust national media.

ALSO: Sanka (a Brit) updates us on #Megxit latest to start show

Let’s SKOL!

| 49ers 27, Vikings 23 — Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports |

Alright alright alright… let me admit something before I let loose on everyone right when you’re coming to life on the biggest of Purple Fridays:

I woke up this morning at about 3 AM, finished last night’s Wild vs Calgary postgame graphic for Instagram (spoiler: they lost), and hit the Vikings @ 49ers “deep dive” for the first time, with a full pot of coffee by my side.

All week long I’ve watched from afar, as everyone (especially national reporters and personalities) got lost in Jimmy Garoppolo’s beautiful eyes, as they gazed with him into a future that lays just over 24 hours ahead of us now, and holds the NFC Divisional Round games of the National Football League Playoffs in its hands…

He’s a gorgeous human being. It’s difficult to deny that, even as a heterosexual male like myself (we think). But for those few who can peer through Jimmy’s baby blues and see his (many) deficiencies, it’s still nearly impossible to get around Kyle Shanahan’s — massive, huge, incredible, advanced, big, veiny, futuristic, but still retro — football brain. With all of those adjectives, you can clearly pick up on how intelligent he really is..

If you read or listen to anyone who knows anything, it sure seems like Shanahan Jr’s genius is ALWAYS showing… I mean the guy’s only 40 and he’s been an offensive coordinator or head coach in the league forever (11 years exactly), so numbers should back that up, right?

Well, with all of the salivating mouths dropping around the nation for Shanahan and Garoppolo, I figured I had to be misremembering recent history, because I couldn’t recall Kyle or Jimmy ever heading a team on a playoff run… or playoff victory…. or playoff game, for that matter. I also can’t remember either guy reaching elite level as a HC or QB until this year, either…

I talked about this very thought last night on MN Sports Fan Daily – LIVE, before my research was done this morning.

But, I had to be wrong because, even as a #1 seed, coaches and QB’s without past playoff experience are NEVER handed victories like the Niners have been for this entire week…. especially QB’s and HC’s who are young and unproven.

So, I took a closer look…

via GIPHY

Kyle Shanahan – Career Overview (via pro-football-reference.com)

Jimmy Garoppolo – 2019 Breakdown + Career Overview (via pro-football-reference.com)

via GIPHY

Really, I just want to go through GIPHY.com and run an endless thread of gifs to finish this blog.

How stupid is this? Kyle Shanahan has had 3 pretty good seasons and has been promoted each time, even though everything in-between is average or bad. Jimmy G hasn’t proven anything since being traded to the Niners and this season… he’s been… ok… He’s had a few games that stick out positively (green highlights above) but he’s also had some really shitty games too (red above). The San Francisco 49ers have one really good season (a season in which they were 3-2 in their last 5 games and 5-3 in their last 8) and now we are ready to dub them the NFC Champions? Is this the same league where NOBODY could trust Kirk Cousins because he’s never done anything in a big game, until last week?

Is this the same league that continually wipes out playoff newcomers, no matter how good their regular seasons were? Does nobody remember Lamar Jackson’s first year in this tournament, when the LA Chargers suddenly knew how to play defense, shutting down the budding star and holding him under 50% passing and an early 2018 exit?

Even the great Patrick Mahomes struggled in the playoffs last year, throwing for just 3 touchdowns in two games and 51% completion in the second round, when they lost to the Patriots.

Not enough proof? Remember Tom Brady…. he’s had some playoff success, right? Not much in his first two years… In Tom’s first 5 postseason games (’01, ’03 — both Super Bowl winners) he threw for 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and never posted a QB Rating over 87.0. It wasn’t until his 6th postseason game (’03’ Super Bowl), that he established what would become the greatest postseason career of all-time.

But Jimmy G is just going to come out in his first postseason appearance (not riding the bench behind Brady), overcome everything the prior greats couldn’t, and lead his team (and young head coach) over a postseason veteran Vikings defense? GTFO.

You don’t just jump into the playoff scene and start beating teams, who have already been there and done that. The 49ers had a great season… but that’s where this will all end for them. Mike Zimmer and Co. are about to punch these Bay Area pussies in the mouth and I’d be surprised to see any counterpunches coming back. In fact, after my deep dive this morning, I’m confident in saying, the Vikings are a lock in this game and will win by at least 10 points.

Why? Because if history is tells us anything, it’s certainly NOT that the 49ers will win tomorrow. No, history tells us that Mike Zimmer is on the precipice of reaching the ultimate prize. In his 6th season as a head coach, with 4 playoff games under his belt through 3 different seasons (and a SB as a DC); history tells us that Mike Zimmer and his team of grizzly postseason veterans, are much more likely to bust through to glory this season, than the postseason greenhorn Niners are to even win a game. The Vikings have seen the lowest of postseason lows (2017 wide-left) and the highest of postseason highs (Minneapolis Miracle). Most of the these Niners have never seen the field for a playoff down, especially on offense.. 

30-10 is my final prediction, and the Vikings advance to the NFC Championship for the 2nd time in 3 years.

It’s time to show these young bucks where their place is, inside of the postseason NFC.

via GIPHY

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

On Thursday’s episode of #MSFDaily – LIVE, Eric and Seth about Adam Thielen’s latest injury update and Stefon Diggs’ apparent “sickness”.

Oh, plus WTF is Jimmy G and why is Kyle Shanahan the OC GAWD..

Let’s roll!