Sam Darnold, the backup quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, is ineligible for one of the NFL’s prestigious awards—the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year (CPOY). This award typically honors players who have made significant returns to form after facing serious challenges, such as injuries, health issues, or performance declines in previous seasons. The reason Darnold is ineligible stems from the specific criteria the award committee looks for in nominees and how Darnold’s career trajectory fits into it.
The Comeback Player of the Year award is designed to spotlight players who have demonstrated exceptional resilience by overcoming significant setbacks. These setbacks often include devastating injuries, major health problems, or personal struggles that impacted their performance. Players like Alex Smith (who won after returning from a life-threatening leg injury) and Joe Burrow (who won after recovering from a torn ACL) are quintessential examples of past winners who faced significant adversity and returned to top form.
In Darnold’s case, while he’s certainly faced challenges during his career, his situation doesn’t align with the criteria typically associated with the award. Since being drafted by the New York Jets in 2018 as the third overall pick, Darnold has struggled to consistently perform at a high level. His career has been marked by inconsistency, with his time in New York plagued by issues like injuries, poor coaching, and a lackluster supporting cast. Despite these struggles, Darnold has never faced a major injury that derailed his career entirely, nor has he experienced a defining personal hardship or long-term absence from the game that would make his case for Comeback Player of the Year.
Additionally, Darnold hasn’t had the kind of breakthrough resurgence that the award typically recognizes. While he has shown flashes of talent, he has largely served in a backup role, both with the Carolina Panthers and now with the Vikings. For a player to be a serious contender for CPOY, there usually needs to be a standout season following a significant adversity, which Darnold hasn’t yet delivered.
In short, while Darnold’s career has had its ups and downs, the specific adversity required for eligibility in the Comeback Player of the Year race hasn’t been present. His current role as a backup further diminishes his chances of being considered for such an award.
Leave a Reply