Former Jets GM Maccagnan talks belief in Darnold ahead of Super Bowl

The person who drafted Sam Darnold for the New York Jets in 2018 watched from his house in Houston final Sunday as his outdated quarterback celebrated the NFC championship. The confetti at Lumen Discipline was swirling, and so had been Mike Maccagnan’s feelings.

His thoughts wandered again to Darnold’s wet professional day at USC, all these scouting journeys to the West Coast (4 consecutive weekends within the fall of 2017) and the pure elation on draft day when Darnold was obtainable with the third general decide.

The Jets’ former common supervisor recalled Darnold’s promising rookie 12 months, and years later, he nonetheless hears the echo of that voice inside him — the one which stored saying in 2018, “We bought one.” Which means a franchise quarterback.

And so it was bittersweet for Maccagnan as he noticed Darnold’s near-flawless efficiency within the Seattle Seahawks‘ victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Whereas he was overjoyed for Darnold, whose crooked NFL path is among the sizzling storylines heading into Tremendous Bowl LX, it additionally was a heavy second for the outdated scout.

“I used to be all the time form of unhappy that Sam wasn’t in a position to fulfill that potential in New York,” Maccagnan instructed ESPN this week in his first interview since being fired by the Jets in 2019. “That is the place he began his journey, and, in a really perfect world, he would’ve completed it there.

“However it wasn’t meant to be, and he needed to go on his personal journey to develop and develop elsewhere. It makes me really feel good that he is fulfilling his potential. It isn’t essentially vindication. In our enterprise, once you see one thing, and it seems the best way you envisioned it, it makes you are feeling good. I feel each scout most likely feels that manner.”

Darnold, who performed three seasons in New York, was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021 — a transfer that also sparks debate amongst Jets followers. 5 years and 4 groups after the commerce, Darnold has blossomed into the quarterback and chief the Jets all the time anticipated.

And nonetheless want.

“He confirmed flashes; that is why [the trade] did not make sense,” former Jets security Jamal Adams stated. “Our head coach that we employed [Adam Gase] did not actually assist us out now. He didn’t assist us out.

“Typically you look again like ‘Golly!’ We had Sam Darnold in our palms, and now he will the Tremendous Bowl.”

Three former teammates — Adams, huge receiver Robbie Chosen and deal with Kelvin Beachum — spoke glowingly of Darnold this week in interviews with ESPN. They remembered him as a dutiful younger participant with distinctive arm expertise, somebody who blended into the locker room and cared extra about X’s and O’s than X (Twitter in these days).

In addition they lauded his aplomb within the aftermath of the notorious 2019 “Ghosts” recreation, which little doubt might be introduced up within the coming days as a result of it was towards the New England Patriots — his opponent on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium.

Principally, they appreciated his capability to keep away from being chewed up and spit out by an impatient league.

“Typically within the league, in sure conditions, it is not all the time the participant,” Chosen stated. “It takes the inspiration round you that helps you grow to be nice. I keep in mind saying it on [a podcast], after they had been making an attempt to debate with me about him as a participant. I am like, ‘He is good, he simply hasn’t been developed appropriately.'”

MACCAGNAN ISN’T A highlight seeker. He wasn’t that manner in his 4 seasons because the Jets’ GM and he hasn’t been since his unceremonious ouster seven years in the past.

Till now.

He agreed to an interview due to his affinity for Darnold and his household. Simply the opposite day, Maccagnan noticed a reposted video on social media of Darnold’s dad and mom, Mike and Chris, hugging Sam and backup quarterback Josh McCown outdoors the locker room after Sam’s first NFL recreation — a win over the Detroit Lions on Sept. 11, 2018. Maccagnan was standing just a few toes away from the scene.

“I am getting a bit of choked up, and I did not suppose I’d,” Maccagnan stated at the beginning of the interview, mentioning the video clip.

Keep in mind when? Sam Darnold greeted by his dad and mom after his first Jets recreation – Sept. 11, 2018, a win over the Lions. Fairly a journey. Now he will the Tremendous Bowl … with the Seahawks. #Jets pic.twitter.com/dzZLnIP9eq

— Wealthy Cimini (@RichCimini) January 26, 2026

A extremely drafted quarterback could be a legacy-defining decide for a GM. Maccagnan did not get sufficient time to see it by. His quarterback prodigy flashed potential as a rookie, however the staff completed 4-12. The Jets, seemingly in a state of perpetual change, changed Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles with Joe Douglas and Gase, respectively.

After a promising second season, Darnold confirmed important regression in 2020, prompting Douglas to commerce him for 3 draft picks, together with a second-round selection.

Douglas, fired in 2024, politely declined to be interviewed for this story, referring to his post-trade feedback. On the time, he expressed confidence that Darnold would grow to be a very good quarterback, however he felt the higher long-term plan for the group was to begin over with a rookie — Zach Wilson, drafted second general in 2021. Wilson turned out to be a significant disappointment, however Douglas by no means second-guessed the choice, he instructed buddies through the years.

There was sound reasoning behind Douglas’ resolution, which included a monetary element as properly. The counterargument: By no means quit on a younger quarterback with potential. It should go down in Jets lore as some of the compelling “what if?” eventualities.

What if they’d drafted Dan Marino over Ken O’Brien in 1983? What if Aaron Rodgers hadn’t torn his Achilles in 2023? What if they’d given Darnold one other likelihood?

“My private opinion: I’d’ve favored to have seen him get a full alternative there,” Maccagnan stated. “However on the finish of the day, I wasn’t in that constructing, so I am unable to say, ‘They need to’ve completed this, this and this.’ I wasn’t round. However I used to be saddened to see them commerce him.”

Adams was a 12 months faraway from the Jets when Darnold was traded, however his hope was to see Darnold flourish within the Large Apple.

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“Man, if solely New York had some endurance with him,” stated Adams, who was dealt to the Seahawks earlier than the 2020 season. “Like, he was the man, man. He was gonna be The Man. He simply wanted time.”

The Darnold-led Jets did not have a robust roster or a robust infrastructure. At occasions, they had been dysfunctional. It did not assist that he contracted mononucleosis in 2019, which value him three video games early within the 12 months. From 2018 to 2020, he ranked thirty seventh out of 40 quarterbacks in Whole QBR (40.3).

In Darnold’s three seasons, the Jets had been 13-35. Now contemplate his previous two seasons: He went 14-3 with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 and 14-3 with the Seahawks, becoming a member of Tom Brady as the one quarterbacks in historical past to win a minimum of 14 video games in consecutive seasons.

In the meantime, the Jets have continued to cycle by quarterbacks, going from Darnold to Wilson to Rodgers to Justin Fields, extending the franchise’s streak to 10 straight dropping seasons. And now, they are going to probably have a brand new starter in 2026.

Darnold was a part of the morass, however possibly, simply possibly, he wanted to battle in New York.

“Every part he has endured, every little thing he went by has set him as much as be the participant that he’s, the individual that he’s and the competitor that he’s,” Beachum stated. “It is all cast him and hardened him to be the participant that he’s.”

IT WAS ONE of the worst video games of Darnold’s profession — 4 interceptions in a 33-0 house loss to the Patriots on a Monday evening in 2019. The enduring second of the sport really occurred on the bench, when a miked-up Darnold instructed a coach, “I am seeing ghosts.”

It was aired throughout the ESPN telecast. Straight away, it went viral.

Utilizing soccer parlance, he admitted he was confused by Invoice Belichick’s protection, making a narrative that has adopted him all through his profession. The next week, in Jacksonville, a airplane flew over the stadium with a banner that learn: “Gardner Minshew ain’t afraid of no ghost.” The Jaguars trolled Darnold by taking part in the “Ghostbusters” theme music within the stadium within the closing seconds of a 14-point win.

To at the present time, he nonetheless will get requested concerning the “ghosts,” however not as usually.

“I like the truth that he is reached a stage the place they’re speaking extra concerning the issues he is doing on the sector versus a sound chunk from a recreation, stated in a short time in frustration, sitting on the bench,” Maccagnan stated. “That simply hangs. In your head, you are like, ‘OK, what number of gamers has that occurred to within the NFL?’ Most likely not many. These are issues that form of grasp round.”

Adams stated he thought again to the ghost recreation earlier this season when Darnold was intercepted 4 occasions by the Rams in November.

“This time, it was totally different,” Adams stated. “He by no means flinched and he got here again swinging. That is what stood out to me.”

In a manner, Darnold will confront his — ahem — demons within the Tremendous Bowl. His profession report towards the Patriots is 0-4; he was outscored in these video games 123-23. He has one landing move and 9 interceptions, the second-worst ratio for any quarterback towards a single opponent since 1990 (minimal: 125 makes an attempt), per ESPN Analysis.

Speaking about Darnold, his former teammates cited his resilience because the driving drive in his circuitous profession.

He was traded by the Jets. Benched in Carolina. A benchwarmer for the San Francisco 49ers. Discarded by the Vikings in favor of the unproven J.J. McCarthy.

Nonetheless, he’s set to grow to be the third quarterback in historical past to begin a Tremendous Bowl whereas on his fifth staff or extra.

A brand new narrative emerged final season, following his poor efficiency (9 sacks) within the Vikings’ playoff loss: Cannot win the large one.

Darnold ought to undertake Elton John’s “I am Nonetheless Standing” as his theme music. His intangible qualities are what attracted Maccagnan to him throughout the scouting course of. They’re additionally what endeared him to teammates.

“He all the time had that greatness inside him,” Chosen stated. “Seeing him have the chance to win all of it on the most important stage, I am very excited and completely satisfied for him.”

Adams stated, “Sam is the best human on the earth and the best dude ever. Significantly, he isn’t solely a very good soccer participant, however a fantastic dude and a fantastic teammate. I miss balling with him, I let you know that, as a result of I knew he’d present up each day for work.”

Requested to explain Darnold’s journey, Maccagnan made an summary comparability, recalling the outdated Marlboro Man cigarette adverts from the Seventies. The person within the advert was Darnold’s grandfather, Dick Hammer, who died when Sam was solely 2.

“There’s this weathered, powerful man on this iconic photograph, and also you begin pondering, Sam, in his personal manner, has weathered very intense storms in his improvement with totally different environments,” stated Maccagnan, acknowledging “a whole lot of these environments” weren’t conducive to quarterback improvement.

Maccagnan, a senior soccer analysis specialist for SumerSports, an analytics-based firm serving the NFL and schools, acknowledged that he made his share of errors throughout his Jets tenure. However he all the time knew, from the primary time his scout’s eyes watched Darnold play quarterback, that the child had one thing.

“He is the one I by no means second-guessed,” the previous GM stated. “I all the time felt he was the one I bought proper.”