Sam Darnold not eligible for 1 big NFL award?
Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Sam Darnold has resurrected his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings, but apparently there is a collection of voters who are not supposed to call it a comeback.
Darnold has played at an elite level since being named the starting quarterback of the Vikings. The former No. 3 overall pick has thrown for 1,111 yards, 11 touchdowns and 4 interceptions through five games. More importantly, Minnesota is 5-0 and the only undefeated team in the NFC.
In past years, the type of performance we have seen from Darnold would make him a lock to win the Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. The criteria seem to have changed this year, however.
According to AP senior NFL writer Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press issued guidance to voters during the offseason instructing them that the Comeback Player of the Year Award should “honor a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury or other circumstances that led him to miss playing time the previous season.”
#Vikings QB Sam Darnold probably would’ve been a candidate for the Comeback Player of the Year award before the AP issued guidance to voters before the season, instructing them that “the spirit of the award is to honor a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of…
— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) October 11, 2024
Voters have not always voted that way in the past. Joe Flacco won Comeback Player of the Year last season after he stepped in for an injured Deshaun Watson and led the Cleveland Browns to the Playoffs. In 2022, Geno Smith won the award after he enjoyed a career revival with the Seattle Seahawks.
With the new guidelines, Darnold likely will not further the recent trend. The AP wants the Comeback Player of the Year Award to be reserved for players like Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers, who both tore their Achilles last season.
Darnold is probably far more concerned with trying to make the playoffs and win a Super Bowl, of course. He may not be able to win Comeback Player of the Year, but at least Darnold can enjoy legendary coaches taking shots at his former team on his behalf.