His future uncertain, Sam Darnold reflects on Year 3: ‘Only up from here’
Sam Darnold has maintained a positive outlook despite his uncertain future.
While Darnold has acknowledged that his inconsistent play helped lead to Adam Gase’s firing, he’s also expressed his desire to right the ship with the team who drafted him. However, that decision is not up to him.
Joe Douglas has maintained a non-committal status on the 23-year-old quarterback. New York’s general manager will decide Darnold’s future in a collaborative effort with the team’s next head coach. The Jets have until May 3 to pick up Darnold’s fifth-year option and they have the No. 2 pick in April’s draft.
With so much to be decided in the months ahead, Darnold took a moment to reflect on his third NFL season, a disappointing one, on Instagram.
Year 3 didn’t go as planned for Darnold. He went 2-10 as a starter, completing 59.6% of his passes for 2,208 yards with nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He appeared to regress in his second year under Gase, struggling with decision-making, accuracy and awareness. He did not throw for 250 yards until the final game of the season.
As Darnold awaits better days ahead, it is unclear whether they would come with the Jets or another team.
