Sam Darnold went from castoff to champion.
Now Rich Eisen thinks he knows who could be next.
And itâs another former first-round quarterback trying to rewrite his story.
Rich Eisen Names His Pick for the NFLâs Next âSam Darnoldâ Story
Sam Darnoldâs 2025 season will go down as one of the NFLâs ultimate redemption arcs.
Written off. Labeled a bust. Bounced around the league.
Then he led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title.
But Darnoldâs rise may not be a one-off.
According to Rich Eisen, thereâs another quarterback positioned to follow that same path.
âMac Jones, in my estimation, is the most likely candidate to be the next Sam Darnold of anybody else,â Eisen said on The Rich Eisen Show.
Thatâs not a random comparison.
The parallels are striking.
From First-Round Hope to NFL Question Mark
Like Darnold, Mac Jones entered the league with high expectations.
- Drafted 15th overall by the Patriots in 2021
- Pro Bowler as a rookie
- Viewed as New Englandâs long-term answer
Then things unraveled.
Coaching changes. Offensive instability. Regression.
By 2024, Jones was in Jacksonville.
By 2025, he was backing up Brock Purdy in San Francisco.
For many quarterbacks, that trajectory signals the beginning of the end.
But Jones quietly rebuilt his reputation last season.
A Quietly Impressive 2025
Jones made eight starts for the 49ers and appeared in 11 games overall.
His numbers:
- 2,151 passing yards
- 13 touchdowns
- 6 interceptions
- 69.6% completion rate
Efficient. Controlled. Composed.
Not superstar numbers â but steady, winning football.
Itâs the kind of performance that can quietly reset a quarterbackâs value around the league.
The Missing Piece: Opportunity
To complete the Darnold arc, Jones needs what Darnold eventually got:
A real shot as QB1.
That likely wonât happen in San Francisco, where the 49ers remain committed to Brock Purdy.
But opportunity could be coming.
Jones is reportedly being linked to the Minnesota Vikings â the same franchise that helped reboot Darnoldâs career before his eventual move to Seattle.
If Minnesota (or another QB-needy team) gives Jones control of an offense with structure and stability, the narrative could flip quickly.
Why the Comparison Makes Sense
Darnoldâs resurgence wasnât about suddenly becoming a different quarterback.
It was about:
- Landing in the right system
- Playing within structure
- Regaining confidence
- Cutting down mistakes
Jonesâ 2025 performance suggests heâs already working through those same checkpoints.
The league constantly searches for the next reclamation project who can outperform expectations.
Eisen believes Jones is next in line.
Redemption Stories Are Trending
In todayâs NFL, quarterback careers donât always follow straight lines.
Baker Mayfield rebooted his career.
Darnold won a Super Bowl.
Geno Smith reinvented himself.
The blueprint exists.
Mac Jones just needs the stage.
If he finds it â and capitalizes â Eisenâs prediction could look prophetic.
Because in the modern NFL, yesterdayâs disappointment can quickly become tomorrowâs headline.
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