If you want to trigger a Minnesota Vikings fan right now, suggest they’re not as good as the Green Bay Packers. But if you really want to evoke some feelings, mention Sam Darnold.
The Vikings rode Darnold’s magical 2024 season to a 14-win campaign. But after leaving in free agency, he went on to win the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings have tried to cosplay as their counterparts in the Pacific Northwest since then, hiring former Seahawks assistant general manager Nolan Teasley to take the lead role in Minnesota. Still, Darnold’s departure triggers the submissive nature of the fan base.
However, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. Seeing Darnold raise the Lombardi Trophy in one of the Vikings’ biggest mistakes definitely sucks. But instead of crying another swan song about the athlete that left town, it might be time for the Vikings to do something about it.
One of the biggest things about Kevin O’Connell’s tenure is that when the vibes are good, the Vikings are hard to beat. It’s why his postgame locker room speeches after a win go viral. But when things aren’t good, you get what the Vikings were, going 4-8 in their first 12 games before winning their last five games against teams ready for the offseason or resting players for a playoff game.
Fans can be the same way. Seeing Darnold win a championship invokes comparisons to other famous Minnesota athletes that got away, now including Karl-Anthony Towns, who won a championship after the Minnesota Timberwolves traded him to the New York Knicks. But if there’s a moral of the story, it may be that the Vikings have a better plan.
Remember that the Vikings didn’t kick Darnold out the door. The two sides reportedly discussed a contract before the Seahawks entered the mix, and Minnesota thought they could re-sign Daniel Jones. Jones declined, and the Vikings turned down Aaron Rodgers. Still, Minnesota’s plan was always to put McCarthy into the starting role despite him missing the entire 2024 season with a meniscus injury.
That plan didn’t work out well, but it’s similar to other franchises throughout sports. In 2026, players leave due to salary caps and second aprons. Instead, it’s about constructing the right plan when they leave; that’s the difference between a team like the Seahawks and one like the Vikings.
It’s also similar to some of the other Minnesota horror stories that are out there. The Timberwolves had to trade Towns because of the second salary cap, which contains severe roster-building penalties for teams that stay in there too long. But their alternative plan was to acquire Julius Randle, a talented but mercurial player who was a double-edged sword.
The Minnesota Twins also once released David Ortiz. While no salary cap or apron facilitated that move, they entrusted Matt LeCroy with the designated hitter role. Ortiz left for the Boston Red Sox and became Big Papi. Meanwhile, LeCroy’s claim to fame was being a “sandwich pick” who was out of Minnesota after the 2005 season.
There are other examples Minnesota fans could highlight, but ultimately it comes back to the Vikings. McCarthy didn’t pan out last year, so they had him compete for the starting job with Kyler Murray. While some have said McCarthy has improved, Murray remains the frontrunner for the job and will likely lead the Vikings into their Week 1 battle with the Packers.
If that doesn’t work out, the Vikings will need a better idea. Baker Mayfield’s situation with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is worth monitoring if they can’t agree on a contract extension. The 2027 draft class is also appealing, but the Vikings may not be able to land the quarterback of their dreams, mirroring their failed attempt to trade up for Drake Maye ahead of the 2024 draft.
Again, all of these plans come with some risk. That may be why the Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in the offseason. But the reason you don’t hear about it in other cities is that their Plan B actually worked, leading them to a championship or even just an appearance in a championship series.
Demanding a better plan for teams like the Vikings is better than shedding more tears over Darnold’s departure. And it’s a big challenge for Teasley and the rest of the front office to have the correct idea in place and make everyone forget about Darnold and any other athlete who has left the state.
