11 February 2024 , 07:30
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Sam Darnold, who always dreamed of reaching a Super Bowl, has had an unexpected journey to this year's big game. He never imagined it would be like this.
Darnold was chosen as the No.3 pick by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft, with hopes he could lead them back to glory. But that didn't happen.
After three years with the Jets, Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers. After two unsuccessful years there, he couldn't secure the starting position.
In March, he made a bold move and joined the San Francisco 49ers, where he's been backup to Brock Purdy on their Super Bowl journey. While he was the star of the Jets, his Super Bowl week has been low-key, away from the spotlight. As reporters flocked around Purdy at the 49ers' final media session before the Super Bowl, Darnold sat quietly nearby.
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He confessed earlier in the week that he "always envisioned" making a Super Bowl run with the Jets. But now, after stepping back, he's embraced being part of one of the NFL's top offenses.. It's taken him to the game he used to "dream of as a kid", ready to seize any opportunity that comes his way.
"I feel great," Darnold told Mirror US Sports. "We've had a great year so far, and we're all just looking forward to Sunday."
"It's been great being here. I loved my time in Carolina, loved my time in New York. Obviously things didn't go the way they were supposed to go, but I think just being able to be here, learn as much football as I can, be around great players and see what they do every day, I feel like I'm learning every day."
While he's getting ready for Sunday away from the spotlight, he knows that one play could put him centre stage, playing quarterback in the Super Bowl, just like he always dreamed of. How does he get ready for that?
Darnold is Purdy's backup but has seen some action when his teammate has been hurt this season (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)"Just got to study like I'm the starter," he says. "Take all the mental reps I can during practice, take more mental reps when the day ends."
"When I go up to my room, study the playbook and take mental reps that way. Just never stop preparing, that's how I have to attack it."
After being part of two troubled teams and offenses before, Darnold has found possibly the best place for a quarterback in San Francisco. Kyle Shanahan is known for his ability to create plays to get people open, and Darnold is loving being part of his system.
Darnold has detailed his preparations ahead of the big game (Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)"It's a great offense," he praised. "I's a West Coast system but there's a lot of new, modern twists on it with the different defenses we're seeing and how much defenses are disguising coverages."
"A lot more pure progressions, which means we're just going one to two to three to checkdown in a lot of different scenarios."
"To be able to motion the way we do, lots of shifts and motions, it's awesome. Just being with Kyle, being with the coaches that we have, coach Griese in the quarterback and all the great players we have, it's been fun."
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If Darnold gets to play on Sunday, he could turn out to be an unexpected hero. If he does, the quiet days away from the spotlight will surely be over.