Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl run has reopened some old wounds for New York Jets fans, while also offering a strange sense of closure.
During Super Bowl media week, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback found himself face-to-face with a supporter who embodied the complicated legacy of his time in New York.
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The interaction captured the emotional crossroads many Jets fans now find themselves standing at as Darnold prepares for the biggest game of his career.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
A Jets fan asks Sam Darnold for permission to move on
Sam Darnold was approached by a fan who explained he had supported the New York Jets for 16 years and had remained loyal when the franchise selected Darnold in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The fan showed a photo of his old Jets jersey as proof of that long-term commitment, before revealing a second image of himself holding a Seattle Seahawks jersey with Darnold’s name on the back.
He then asked for something unusual, requesting Darnold’s blessing to abandon his Jets fandom and instead support Darnold and the Seahawks going forward.
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Darnold responded by welcoming the support and making it clear that anyone who wanted to follow his journey was welcome to become a Seahawks fan.
The exchange quickly resonated online as a symbolic moment for fans who have followed his uneven career arc.
Why Darnold’s Jets tenure still shapes the reaction
Sam Darnold’s years with the New York Jets were defined by unmet expectations and mounting frustration after he was drafted third overall in 2018.
Viewed as a franchise quarterback, he struggled through three seasons marked by inconsistency, turnovers, and organisational instability.
The Jets failed to build a stable environment around him, cycling through coaching changes and offensive systems while rarely providing reliable protection or weapons.
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By the time Darnold left New York, his tenure was widely viewed as a disappointment, even by fans who had once believed he could change the franchise.
As Darnold prepares for the Super Bowl, his story serves as a reflection point for Jets fans, forcing them to reckon with past expectations, present reality, and the complicated nature of loyalty in modern sports.
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