Sam Darnold was called ‘crazy’ then leaned on family’s love to hand Jets the worst decision in Super Bowl history

Sam Darnold normally does not cry.

Especially not with his father, at the same time.

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Emotional Darnold gives thanks to his family

But the NFL ‘draft bust’ coldly discarded by the New York Jets was now a Super Bowl winner, and Darnold had the new hat and T-shirt to prove it.

Darnold became emotional as he watched his Seattle Seahawks celebrate a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium that felt more like a four-quarter blowout.

When Darnold was asked about that emotion in a room filled with reporters and cameras, the former No. 3 overall pick — who bounced from New York to Carolina, San Francisco and Minnesota — reflected on the family and loved ones who never let him quit on himself.

“I shared a great moment with my parents and my fiance, Katie, after the game,” said Darnold, in response to a question from talkSPORT.

“That’s what kind of got me a little bit. I just told my — me and my dad don’t really cry very often. I told my dad and my mom, ‘I’m here because of their belief in me.’

“They believed in me throughout my entire career and I think that’s why I was able to believe in myself almost ad nauseam.

“Some people called me crazy throughout my career for believing in myself so much and having so much confidence. But it was because of my parents, because of the way that they believed in me throughout my entire career, and it allowed me to go out there and play free and have a ton of confidence.”

On a night when Bad Bunny was more exciting and electric than Patriots QB Drake Maye, the ‘boring’ Darnold forever became part of NFL history and was once again perfect for the Seahawks.

What were the NY Jets thinking?

Darnold (19-of-38, 202 yards, 74.7 rating) missed throws that Super Bowl MVPs normally make.

But the eight-year pro finally had his career breakthrough in Santa Clara, California.

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Darnold also threw a brilliant 16-yard touchdown to Seattle tight end AJ Barner with 13 minutes and 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter that made the remainder of Super Bowl LX a formality.

Darnold — who was cast aside by the Minnesota Vikings just 11 months ago — is a Super Bowl champ, while a suffocating Seattle defense prevented Maye and the Patriots from becoming the first team in NFL history to collect seven Super Bowl trophies.

“Just proud of him,” Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield, a former Panthers teammate of Darnold’s, told talkSPORT during Super Bowl week.

“I think it’s not the evolution of Sam. It’s just him being in the right situation. The unwavering confidence, no matter what the situation he’s been in, and being able to come out stronger on the other side.”

Classic Darnold on NFL’s biggest stage

It was a night of defense, field goals, defense and more field goals.

Logan Paul being booed by a sold-out crowd of 70,823 was one of the highlights of the third quarter, which saw Seattle carry a 12-0 lead into the final period.

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Then Darnold did what he’s done all season for Seattle.

He proved his weekly critics wrong, engineered efficient offensive drives that burned clock time, leaned on trusted running back Kenneth Walker III and refused to give a victory away.

Maye threw two interceptions and couldn’t touch Tom Brady‘s Super Bowl debut in 2001, which led to six New England trophies and a two-decade dynasty with Bill Belichick.

Darnold became a $100 million bargain for the Seahawks and joined Russell Wilson in Seattle history.

‘Sea-hawks!’ chants echoed through a packed concourse two hours before kickoff, then took over the stadium in the final minutes.

Seahawks leaned on Darnold and defense

Rob Gronkowski, Brady and Maye jerseys blended in with old-school San Francisco 49ers and new Bad Bunny gear.

It was a tech-heavy, big-money, sunshine-soaked matchup in suburban North California.

But even making the 42-mile trip from downtown San Francisco to Santa Clara required two hours via car, while a traffic jam on the highway off ramp set up another traffic jam among office parks and parking lots.

Oversized portraits of Darnold and Maye decorated the exterior of open-air Levi’s Stadium.

Inside, an American Lager beer cost $21, while a huge collection of suites highlighted the real focus of a $23 billion sports league that has already announced a record nine international games next season and continues to expand across the globe.

There was also perfect weather in early February, an open blue sky and booming bass as the initial Darnold vs Maye battle was broken down on a glowing Jumbotron.

Patriots unprepared for Seahawks’ wrecking crew

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In a Super Bowl light on flashy names and real pregame drama, Maye was trying to follow Brady’s legendary run in New England.

Darnold had even more to prove to himself and his longtime believers.

“It’s quick,” said Mayfield, reflecting on how the NFL can rush the development of quarterbacks.

“Quarterback is a tough spot to play, so you’ve got to find the right situation.”

Darnold was tossed aside by the Jets after failing as top pick and potential franchise QB, then traded to Carolina in 2021 for three more draft picks.

“This move is in the short- and long-term best interests for both this team and him,” then-New York general manager Joe Douglas said.

“We thank Sam for all of his work on behalf of this organization and wish him well as he continues his career.”

On Sunday, a 28-year-old from California pushed over the remade Patriots, who were unprepared for a massive stage they used to own.

During a year when the Jets went 3-14 and almost fired another head coach, the QB they once gave up on became one of the most unlikely Super Bowl champions in NFL history.

Darnold is bigger and better than New York, and on top of the football world.

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