Sam Darnold named NFL's Most Improved Player by PFWA
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was named the NFL’s Most Improved Player on Friday, a vote done by the Pro Football Writers of America.
Darnold, in his seventh NFL season, had a career-high 14 wins with the Vikings as he set single-season highs in both passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35). Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was named the Comeback Player of the Year.
On Thursday, the PFWA named Kevin O’Connell its’ NFL Coach of the Year.
Darnold’s season
Why it matters: Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million deal to play for the Vikings in 2024 after Kirk Cousins left in free agency. Darnold had 13 games with at least two touchdown passes, and set a franchise record with a passer rating north of 100 in 13 starts.
He had a single-game career-high five touchdowns in Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, in Cousins’ return to Minnesota. He had three passing touchdowns ore more in six starts. Darnold was selected to the Pro Bowl Games for the first time in his career. His best season prior to this year was in 2019 with the New York Jets, when he threw for 3,024 yards, 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Darnold was drafted No. 3 overall by the Jets in 2018.
What’s next
What we know: Darnold is eligible to become a free agent when the league year opens in March. The Vikings can try to bring him back on a multi-year contract, let him leave, place the franchise tag on him and keep him for one season or tag him and try to trade him. If they’re comfortable with J.J. McCarthy being the 2025 starter, Darnold’s days with the Vikings are likely over.
What we don’t know: If Darnold will earn more awards at the NFL Honors Show during Super Bowl week.