The Vikings went from a 14-win team last year to a 9-8 squad outside of the playoffs in 2025, and the most glaring departure between seasons -- Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold -- is now gearing up to play in Super Bowl LX.
Though it takes a village to raise a Lombardi Trophy, Justin Jefferson can't help wondering if Minnesota might've been the current NFC representative instead of Seattle had Darnold simply stayed put.
"Yeah, I mean, for sure. Definitely. Everyone knows the difficulty of the quarterback position this year, of how we was dealt it," Jefferson told USA Today's Prince Grimes when asked if he thinks the Vikings could have reached the Super Bowl by running things back with Darnold. "But having a quarterback that's already had a season under his belt with us, knew the plays, knew the playbook, knew the players. Of course, throwing to me, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, all of these guys, I definitely felt like we would've done better. But it is what it is. It's on to new and better things, but I'm definitely happy and proud for him that he was able to reach it this year."
Darnold, a third-overall pick from the 2018 draft turned castoff journeyman more than a half decade into his career, magnificently reversed course with the Vikings in 2024. He joined Minnesota as a potential bridge QB to then-rookie J.J. McCarthy, only for McCarthy's season-ending preseason injury to clear the way for the year of Darnold in the Twin Cities.
He threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, both still career highs, with 12 interceptions while leading the Vikings to their second-most wins in franchise history. However, Darnold also melted down in the regular-season finale with a first-round bye on the line and in the subsequent Wild Card Round, which certainly played into the equation when the Vikings went all-in on McCarthy that offseason.
Darnold signed a three-year pact with Seattle and proceeded to enjoy a second consecutive Pro Bowl year.
McCarthy struggled to find his footing in Minnesota and missed seven games, causing the Vikings to turn to Carson Wentz for five starts and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer for two. McCarthy finished with 1,632 yards, 11 TDs and 12 interceptions compared to Darnold's 4,048 yards, 25 TDs and 14 picks; Minnesota's offense plummeted from ninth in points in 2024 to 26th, while Seattle soared to third in scoring from a previous 18th the season prior.
Most importantly, the Seahawks won, finishing with the most regular-season victories in franchise history at 14-3. (A 17th game, added to the NFL regular season in 2021, obviously helped in that regard, but Seattle had only reached 13 wins twice before.)
Darnold, now only the second QB in league history along with Tom Brady to win at least 14 games in consecutive seasons, also avoided another playoff blip, overcoming an oblique injury to land the Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
Jefferson is happy for his former signal-caller despite admitting it's difficult to watch any other team than his own find the postseason success he covets.
"I love that he's in the Super Bowl," Jefferson said. "I'm happy for him. I want nothing but the best for him, especially the way his journey was at first. People doubting him and people not giving him the respect. Now they're giving him that respect. They're seeing that he's a top-tier quarterback in this league.
"Selfishly, I wish that he had done that for us last year, but to see him blossom and bounce back right after last year and make it this year, I'm all happy for him and I hope he wins. I'm rooting for Seattle, and I think Seattle's gonna win."
It unfortunately wasn't just team success that eluded Jefferson in 2025.
For so long one of the foremost wideouts in the NFL, Jefferson notably disappeared for large swaths of his sixth season amid Minnesota's struggles under center. He still logged a sixth-straight 1,000-yard-recieving campaign, but his 1,048 yards marked a career worst, as did his two TD catches, 12.5 yards per reception, 4.9 receptions per game and 61.6 yards per game.
He nonetheless avoided knocking McCarthy in his praise of Darnold, saying he continued to have confidence in the young QB throughout the process.
"Obviously during this offseason we'll work more to get to where we would like to go," Jefferson added. "It's building blocks to it. It don't just happen overnight."
As for his own down season, it served as a wake-up call for Jefferson -- and perhaps bad news for all tasked with defending him moving forward.
"Not every season is going to be the top-tier season," he said. "There's not too many people that have consecutive years dominating the league, you know, I've been dominating. It's just all part of the plan. It's all God's plan. Just really a wake-up moment that I've got to go back to work. Even though I don't feel that the season was on me, but just going back to work, personally I feel like I can do better. Personally, I feel like there's ways to do better and better my craft."
