Reporter groans after Kevin O’Connell downplays validation in Sam Darnold’s 5 TD day

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Vikings are 11-2 after beating the Atlanta Falcons 42-21 on Sunday, a historic day for quarterback Sam Darnold in Kirk Cousins’ return to Minnesota.

Darnold threw for 347 yards and a single-game career-high five touchdowns. Cousins’ departure after the 2023 season opened the door for Darnold to sign with Minnesota this past offseason. He’ll never say it publicly, but Darnold is validating himself as an NFL quarterback so far this season.

Is it validating for Kevin O’Connell and the front office that their belief in Darnold is showing on the field?

"No," O’Connell said Sunday to end his news conference.

A reporter sitting in the front row immediately groaned, perhaps expecting a more passionate or detailed answer.

Why it matters

Through 13 games, Darnold is throwing for 3,299 yards, 28 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. He’s setting himself up for a big contract next year, and that will likely be somewhere else. The expectation is that J.J. McCarthy is the 2025 starter, but if Darnold keeps leading the Vikings to wins, anything could happen

Darnold shows emotion

With the win all but sealed, Darnold went up and down the Vikings’ sideline waving a towel Sunday to get fans fired up. It was the most emotion we’ve seen all season from Darnold. When his numbers popped up on the jumbotron, the "MVP!" chants started.

"That was a lot of emotion for me. I was excited, man. I feel like I couldn’t just sit there, stoic, straight-faced. I feel like I had to show a little emotion for the fans, gave them what they wanted," Darnold said. "That was a special moment for me. I just felt the buzz. That was pure passion, pure joy man."

What’s next

The Vikings host the Chicago Bears Dec. 16 for Monday Night Football.