Former Panthers QB Jake Delhomme 'super excited' for Sam Darnold reaching Super Bowl

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme praised Sam Darnold for his career comeback over the last couple of years, culminating in a Super Bowl LX appearance. Darnold briefly played for Delhomme’s Panthers from 2021-22 under Matt Rhule, starting 17 games amid struggles and injuries.

Still, Delhomme once led Carolina to the Super Bowl over 20 years ago and was impressed with Darnold in Carolina as well as in Minnesota and Seattle. Darnold’s Seahawks went 14-3 this year and just beat the LA Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship Sunday.

“I’m super excited for Sam,” Delhomme said, via Casino Beats. “Great human being. He goes to Carolina for two years and was 8-9 as a starter, which is actually pretty good. That was a tough time. Matt Rhule was hired there, and the direction of the franchise, not really sure if it was pointing in (the right) direction.

“It just was all over the place. And so I thought Sam played decent football. He really and truly did for us. I just don’t know roster-wise if we were there yet, to be very honest.”

Darnold had a combined 3,670 yards, 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions across two seasons for the Panthers. After backing up Brock Purdy in San Francisco in 2023, Darnold took off with the Vikings in 2024 and continued with the Seahawks this season.

“Sam’s very tough, very big, very strong, very smart. Then he goes to San Fran, where he hooks up with Klint Kubiak,” Delhomme said. “That’s where they got to know each other, and he went to sit behind Brock Purdy and play in the Shanahan system. Really and truly, if you think about it, it’s Year 3 in that system for him, from San Fran, Minnesota, and now there.

“But, yeah, they’ve done a marvelous job. That’s an impressive football team. Very proud of Sam. Happy for Sam. I like to see guys that do things the right way get rewarded, and he’s getting rewarded.”

Darnold didn’t want to make anything about himself, repeating what he’s done all year. He credited his Seahawks’ teammates for this historic season.

“Just a total complete team win,” Darnold said. “Special teams stepping up on the muffed punt; Dareke recovering that was huge for us especially going into the half. And then getting the ball back. You know, our defense just playing lights out. That fourth down they hit, I think it was fourth and four, something like that. Just an incredible stop by our guys. So like I said, complete team win. Very proud of this group.”