Sam Darnold closed out 2024 as one of the feel-good NFL stories of the year. The 27-year-old journeyman had led Minnesota to a 14-2 record ahead of a Week 18 showdown against the Detroit Lions that would decide the No.

The Minnesota Vikings went from a Super Bowl contending, 14-game winner playing for the NFC North title with the conference's No. 1 seed and a wild-card bye on the line -- before Week 18's 31-9 defeat by the Detroit Lions -- to an early playoff exit because of a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Sam Darnold’s future has very much been in the balance over the course of the past 48 hours since the Minnesota Vikings‘ upset loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. Once considered to be $50 million/year quarterback prior to his final two highly disappointing games of the season,