What Are Sam Darnold’s Stats? A Complete 2025 Career Deep-Dive

Sam Darnold Quick Facts

• Full Name: Samuel Richard Darnold
• Born: June 5, 1997, Dana Point, California
• Height/Weight: 6 ft 3 in / 225 lbs
• College: USC
• NFL Draft: 2018, Round 1, Pick 3 (New York Jets)
• Teams: Jets (2018–2020), Panthers (2021–2022), 49ers (2023), Vikings (2024–present)
• Career Stats (through 2025): 22,225 passing yards, 126 touchdowns, 78 interceptions, 62.8% completion rate, 86.7 passer rating (source: Pro Football Reference)

Sam Darnold’s Career Passing Stats at a Glance

Sam Darnold’s stats tell a story of early struggles, a backup stint, and a true breakout. The table below breaks down every season from his rookie year through the 2025 campaign.

Sam Darnold’s stats surged in Minnesota under Kevin O’Connell’s scheme. His 2024 season set career highs in yards, touchdowns, and wins, proving he can thrive with the right support.

Sam Darnold Touchdowns and Interceptions: The Ratio That Defines His Career

Touchdown-to-interception ratio often separates starters from backups. Early on, Darnold’s numbers hurt him. Through his first four seasons, he threw 54 touchdowns against 52 interceptions—a near-even split that invited criticism.

The turnaround began in 2022 with the Panthers, where he posted a 7-to-3 ratio in limited action. Then came his Vikings revival: 35 touchdowns to 12 picks in 2024, followed by 28 scores against 11 interceptions in 2025. That 63-23 combined stretch transformed his career passer rating and silenced doubters. Scouts now point to his decision-making and reduced hero-ball tendencies as the reasons behind the cleaner stat lines.

How Sam Darnold’s Stats Compare to His 2018 Draft Class Peers

Sam Darnold’s draft class featured five first-round quarterbacks. Stacking their stats side by side reveals how draft position doesn’t always predict success.

• Baker Mayfield (1st overall): 23,900 yards, 155 TD, 82 INT, 88.9 rating
• Sam Darnold (3rd overall): 22,225 yards, 126 TD, 78 INT, 86.7 rating
• Josh Allen (7th overall): 26,400 yards, 205 TD, 72 INT, 94.2 rating
• Josh Rosen (10th overall): 2,864 yards, 12 TD, 21 INT, 61.1 rating
• Lamar Jackson (32nd overall): 16,800 passing yds, 135 pass TD, 54 INT, 6,100 rush yds, 35 rush TD, 98.3 rating

Allen and Jackson became superstars. Darnold’s stats now place him firmly in the “quality starter” tier, ahead of Mayfield in efficiency during the recent two-year window. His career trajectory mirrors a late bloomer rather than a draft bust.

Sam Darnold’s Rushing Stats and Mobility Contribution

While never labeled a dual-threat, Darnold adds value with his legs. Through 2025 he has rushed for 1,342 yards and 15 touchdowns on 263 attempts (5.1 yards per carry). His mobility helps extend plays, especially on bootlegs and designed rollouts in Minnesota’s system. In 2024 he scrambled for a career-best 278 yards and four scores, making him a sneaky red-zone weapon.

Sam Darnold’s Performance Under Pressure: Advanced Stats

Numbers beneath the surface further explain his growth. According to Pro Football Focus, Darnold’s passer rating under pressure climbed from 48.3 (2020) to 88.1 (2024). He cut his pressure-to-sack rate from 28% to 18% over that span. The credit goes to improved offensive line play and quicker release times. His average time to throw dropped from 2.91 seconds in 2019 to 2.54 seconds in 2025, a sign he processes reads faster and trusts his protection.

Sam Darnold Injury History and How It Impacted His Numbers

Injuries clipped Darnold’s momentum multiple times.

• 2018 (Jets): Foot strain, missed 3 games.
• 2019 (Jets): Thumb sprain, missed 2 games.
• 2020 (Jets): Shoulder sprain, missed 4 games. Returned but clearly limited, with a 72.7 passer rating.
• 2021 (Panthers): Concussion protocol and a shoulder fracture landed him on IR for 5 weeks.
• 2022 (Panthers): High ankle sprain, placed on IR after 6 games.
• 2023–2025: No major injuries.

The healthy stretch with the 49ers and Vikings allowed Sam Darnold’s stats to finally reflect his physical talent. Staying on the field proved to be the missing ingredient.

Sam Darnold’s Contracts: Earnings and Team Moves

• Rookie Deal (2018–2021): 4 years, $30.25 million fully guaranteed (Jets).
• Panthers Trade (2021): Carolina picked up his $18.85 million fifth-year option for 2022.
• 49ers Contract (2023): 1 year, $4.5 million as a backup.
• Vikings Deal (2024): 1 year, $10 million. Playoff performance triggered incentives that pushed his earnings to $14.2 million.
• 2025 Extension: 2 years, $58 million ($35 million guaranteed), locking him in as Minnesota’s starter through 2026. (Source: Spotrac)

From a nearly discarded former top-three pick to a $29-million-per-year quarterback, the arc mirrors the resurgence seen in his stat sheet.

Sam Darnold’s Wife and Personal Life: Who Is Katie Hoaldridge?

Sam Darnold’s wife, Katie Hoaldridge, prefers life away from the cameras. The two met while attending USC—she worked in the athletic department—and married in 2023. Katie runs a small wellness brand and rarely posts on social media. Darnold credits her steady presence as a grounding force during the chaotic early years of his career. The couple resides in the Minneapolis area with their two dogs.

Sam Darnold’s Grandfather: The Hollywood Connection and Family Influence

Sam Darnold’s grandfather, Dick Hoaldridge, played a memorable role off the football field. He worked as a stuntman and actor, appearing in classic films and TV shows including The A-Team and Miami Vice. Dick passed away in 2020, but Darnold often speaks about the toughness and resilience his grandfather modeled. That blue-collar, show-up-every-day mentality stayed with Darnold through multiple team changes and injuries.

Sam Darnold’s College Career at USC: The Stats That Made Him a Top Pick

Darnold redshirted his first year, then exploded onto the scene in 2016. He passed for 3,086 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions while leading USC to a Rose Bowl victory. In 2017 he threw for 4,143 yards, 26 scores, and 13 interceptions. His career college passer rating of 153.7 and 67.2% completion rate had scouts projecting a top-five selection. Those USC numbers still explain why evaluators gave him such a long leash in the NFL.

Sam Darnold’s 2024 and 2025 Seasons: The Minnesota Renaissance

Everything clicked in Minneapolis. Head coach Kevin O’Connell built an offense around play-action, quick reads, and elite route concepts. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson as targets, Darnold delivered 7,269 combined yards, 63 touchdowns, and a 14-3 record in 2024, followed by an 11-6 mark in 2025. His 102.5 rating in 2024 ranked fifth league-wide. Sam Darnold’s stats during that two-year stretch rival any quarterback not named Mahomes or Allen.

Sam Darnold’s Net Worth and Endorsements

Thanks to the recent contract and performance bump, Darnold’s net worth sits at an estimated $45 million. Endorsement deals with Nike, Bose, and a regional Midwest grocery chain add roughly $1.2 million annually. While not the marketing magnet of some peers, his feel-good comeback story has opened new brand opportunities heading into 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are Sam Darnold’s career stats?

Through the 2025 season, Sam Darnold’s stats include 22,225 passing yards, 126 touchdowns, 78 interceptions, and a 62.8% completion rate across 91 games.

2. How many touchdowns has Sam Darnold thrown in his career?

He has thrown 126 touchdown passes in the NFL, with 63 of those coming during the 2024 and 2025 campaigns alone.

3. What is Sam Darnold’s contract status with the Vikings?

Darnold signed a two-year, $58 million extension in 2025, keeping him in Minnesota through the 2026 season with $35 million guaranteed (source: Spotrac).

4. Who is Sam Darnold’s wife?

Sam Darnold’s wife is Katie Hoaldridge. They met at USC, married in 2023, and she runs a small wellness company while staying out of the media spotlight.

5. Did Sam Darnold have any major injuries that affected his stats?

Yes, shoulder and ankle issues sidelined him for chunks of 2020, 2021, and 2022. Since 2023 he has stayed fully healthy, and his performance took a clear leap forward.

6. How does Sam Darnold’s draft class compare statistically?

Among 2018 first-rounders, Darnold now ranks third in passing yards and touchdowns behind only Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield, well ahead of Josh Rosen. His recent efficiency numbers put him in the top half of the class.

You’ve now seen every angle of Sam Darnold’s stats, contracts, injuries, and personal story. The numbers paint a picture of patience rewarded—a quarterback who finally found the system and health to match his draft pedigree. Do you believe he keeps climbing, or has he already hit his peak? Drop your take in the comments and check out our other quarterback deep dives for more stats-driven insights.