It’s a rare phenomenon in sports to see fans continue to support a quarterback long after he’s left their favorite team, especially when his tenure ended in disappointment. Yet that’s exactly what New York Jets fans have done with Sam Darnold.

You would be hard-pressed to find another fan base that so unanimously supports a so-called “failed” young quarterback years after his departure, the way Jets fans have continued to support Darnold despite his winding path through four different NFL teams in the years since.

Darnold is well aware of that support, too. He has made it clear that the backing he continues to receive from Jets fans has never gone unnoticed, even years after his time in New York came to an end.

Just days after winning a Super Bowl as the Seahawks’ quarterback, the former USC star made an appearance at a Seattle-area Raising Cane’s on Tuesday to greet fans of his current team. In the process, he made a point to show love to Jets fans as well.

I asked Sam Darnold if he had a message to #Jets fans who have continued to support him:

“Thank you.”

“I always look at myself and feel like I could’ve done a lot more for that franchise.”

“The fact that [Jets fans] are able to support me even through that means a lot.” pic.twitter.com/AtOsbghHJN

— Justin Fried (@JustinTFried) February 10, 2026Sam Darnold shows love to Jets fans and regrets his New York shortcomings

Darnold spoke with The Jet Press at the event, and when asked what message he had for the countless Jets fans who have continued to support him throughout his football journey, he paused for a moment before delivering an emotional response.

“Thank you. … I always look at myself and feel like I could’ve done a lot more for that franchise. … The fact that [Jets fans] are able to support me even through that means a lot.”

Sam Darnold

It was evident from Darnold’s body language and overall demeanor that not only was he sincere in his response, but that he deeply regretted how things ended in New York.

Darnold has continued to take the high road when asked about the Jets over the years, and his response on Tuesday shows just how much remorse he has for his disappointing tenure in Florham Park.

Darnold spent the first three years of his career with the Jets before he was unceremoniously shipped to the Carolina Panthers before the 2021 NFL Draft, where New York would select his replacement, Zach Wilson.

Following an underwhelming stint in Carolina and a year as a backup with the 49ers, Darnold re-emerged as a starter with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, earning Pro Bowl honors for the first time en route to a 14-win season.

But despite his success in Minnesota, the Vikings opted to let him walk in free agency, allowing Darnold to sign a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seahawks. He’d go on to win 14 more games in the regular season, ultimately leading Seattle to its second Super Bowl victory this past weekend.

Darnold’s road to redemption has been one of the more inspiring stories of perseverance in recent NFL history, but that story never gets written without his time with the Jets. He continues to acknowledge that with every opportunity he gets.

The relationship between Sam Darnold and Jets fans continues to be an anomaly in the world of professional sports. The mutual admiration has remained, serving as a reminder that sometimes a player’s connection with a fan base outlasts the circumstances that once pushed them apart.

It’s beautifully tragic, in a way.