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Quarterbacks grab all the headlines, for good or bad, but they simply cannot do it all by themselves in this ultimate team sport. <\/p>\n
Tom Brady regularly had, and needed, a top-10 defence on his side to win Super Bowls, while Patrick Mahomes lost two of them because he was soundly beaten up by opposing defences.<\/p>\n
In Seattle, Darnold found the perfect storm of a team on the up and a defensive head coach assembling a crack unit that would go on to dominate the NFL, needing just a solid quarterback to steer the offence.<\/p>\n
Having the league’s leading receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker also helped, and plenty will say Darnold did not have to do much.<\/p>\n
He became the first quarterback to enjoy successive 14-win seasons with two different teams – only Brady had managed it with one – but still there were questions as he led the league in turnovers, giving the ball away 20 times.<\/p>\n
Around 80% of play-off games are won by teams with the fewest turnovers. In Super Bowls the record was 40-7 when winning the turnover battle.<\/p>\n
Darnold has the fourth most giveaways in the NFL since being drafted (106) despite spending two years as a back-up, so once again he had to prove himself as he was written off as a liability before even entering the post-season.<\/p>\n
The response was remarkable as Darnold’s Seattle became the first Super Bowl champions without a single turnover in the play-offs.<\/p>\n
He answered the mental questions of facing the Rams again with 346 yards and three touchdowns, before doing just enough in the Super Bowl itself.<\/p>\n
Was it flashy? No. MVP worthy? Not even close. But Darnold, now 28, did what he had to – he kept hold of the ball, made plays when needed and managed the game without ego or trying to be the hero.<\/p>\n
No quarterback has won a Super Bowl having played for five teams before, but then no quarterback has been counted out so many times and got back to the top.<\/p>\n
Luck has played a part, teams like Minnesota and Seattle took a chance and the Seahawks have furnished Darnold with everything he could possibly want in a team – and maybe there’s a hatful of quarterbacks in the league who could have won a Super Bowl with them this season.<\/p>\n
None have been where Darnold has though and not many have done more to earn it. His redemption story really is one for the ages. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n