After what seemed like a lost season, in which Sam Darnold threw only 46 passes and watched Super Bowl LVIII from the 49ers’ sideline, he met with his private coach for their typical exit interview in early 2024. Five years of disappointment, ghosts and J-E-T-S had led to the apprenticeship in San Francisco. This marked a significant step. But toward where, exactly?
Darnold knew he could start in the NFL. His 21–34 record in those seasons lacked context but said otherwise. He also knew what 49ers coaches had tried to keep private. They loved their starting quarterback, Brock Purdy. He led them to that Super Bowl. He would earn—and sign—one of the largest contracts in NFL history. Still, that adoration hadn’t ended a season-long debate. Many at team headquarters didn’t view Darnold as an above-average backup. They saw him as a starter. And some saw him as the better option.
