A couple of other quarterbacks fit that pattern, and the Twins, Lynx, Gophers and North Stars all have made boom-and-bust hires.

The Vikings general manager told reporters Thursday that Darnold is among the “good options” the Vikings have at quarterback while adding that J.J. McCarthy has returned to on-field training.

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Should the Vikings pay Darnold after his (mostly) excellent season? Or should they go with McCarthy and spend that money at other positions?

The best way for Darnold to obtain stability and build a legacy in Minnesota immediately is to have playoff success. If Darnold has an uneven playoff performance and it coincides with a Vikings early exit, it’s fair to presume he’ll venture on a new journey this offseason.

Signed by the Vikings in March on a one-year, $10 million deal, Darnold — starting over injured rookie J.J. McCarthy, who underwent surgery for his meniscus during preseason — helped lead Minnesota to a 14-3 regular season record that boasted a nine-game win streak.

At the dawn of the new year, Sam Darnold was a folk hero in Minnesota. Not only did the quarterback -- no longer locally branded a reclamation project, but rather a full-blown, high-octane Pro Bowler -- sweep the rival Green Bay Packers to give the Vikings their best regular-season record in 16 years,

Sam Darnold could be the most intriguing story of NFL free agency. Where might the Vikings QB land after a breakout season?

We previously covered NFL Network's Tom Pelissero saying on KFAN radio that the "smart money" is still on Sam Darnold returning to Minnesota. FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz sees it differently. "I would say most likely,

When the lights got the brightest, Sam Darnold reverted to his ghost-seeing ways. And that makes it a lot easier to allow Darnold to become a free agent and to move forward with 2024 first-rounder J.J.

After a brutal year of quarterback production in 2024, the Titans are a near lock to bring in a new signal caller. Whether they use the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on a quarterback, sign one in free agency,