Why Sam Darnold is currently not eligible for Comeback Player of the Year

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Sam Darnold is currently having the best season of his NFL career, but unless something changes quickly, he won’t be the league’s Comeback Player of the Year.

The award, handed out annually by the Associated Press, is meant to recognize "a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, injury or other circumstances that led him to miss playing time the previous season."

Darnold does not meet that criteria as he was not injured, didn't have an illness or other extenuating circumstance with the 49ers last season. He was the No. 2 quarterback behind Brock Purdy, playing in 10 games and getting one start.

He's not a Comeback Player of the Year candidate, but with his current numbers, he’s in the MVP conversation.

Why it matters

Darnold is sixth in the NFL with 3,299 passing yards. He’s third with 28 passing touchdowns, and third among starting quarterbacks with a 108.1 rating. His 28 touchdowns through 13 games are a single-season career-high, and are nearly a third of his 91 career touchdowns.

He had a single-game career-high five touchdown passes in Kirk Cousins’ return to Minnesota. Most importantly, he has just 10 interceptions on the season and hasn’t had an interception in four straight games.

The conversation is also heating up on if he has a future in Minnesota. The Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy No. 10 overall and is in line to be the 2025 starter if healthy. If Darnold can lead the Vikings to a playoff run, things could change.

What's next

The Vikings host the Bears for Monday Night Football. He threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns in an overtime win at Soldier Field on Nov. 24. In a logical world because of his time with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, Darnold is an eligible candidate for both MVP and Comeback Player of the Year with four regular season games left.