The Minnesota Vikings’ locker room erupted into chaos Sunday evening, but not until Sam Darnold made his grand entrance. After leading the Vikings to a 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers, Darnold wrapped up postgame interviews on the field, including receiving Tom Brady’s “LFG” trophy. Meanwhile, more than 100 teammates, coaches, and staff members waited eagerly inside to celebrate their quarterback’s record-setting performance.
When Darnold finally stepped through the door, the scene exploded. Linebacker Jonathan Greenard orchestrated the impromptu celebration, with players dousing Darnold in a “waterfall of water” and hoisting him onto their shoulders. The typically reserved quarterback embraced the moment, later joking about feeling like Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights and not knowing “what to do with my hands.”
The celebration capped off a night where Darnold cemented his status as the Vikings’ leader heading into Week 18’s winner-take-all game against the Detroit Lions—a matchup that will decide both the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Signed to a one-year deal in March as a bridge starter for rookie J.J. McCarthy, Darnold was thrust into a permanent role after McCarthy’s season-ending knee injury. Since then, he has exceeded all expectations, delivering 14 wins—an NFL record for a quarterback in his first season with a team.
Darnold’s season-high 377 passing yards on Sunday pushed him past 4,000 yards for the year, the first such milestone of his career. His three touchdown passes brought his season total to 35, the fourth-most ever for a quarterback in his first year with a new team. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell praised Darnold’s performance, calling him “a quarterback playing at a very, very high level.”
O’Connell’s faith in Darnold was evident in his aggressive play-calling late in the game. With the Packers threatening a comeback after cutting the Vikings’ lead to two points, O’Connell kept the ball in Darnold’s hands rather than relying solely on the running game to drain the clock. Darnold responded, completing four key passes, including a 6-yard floater to Cam Akers on third-and-2 to secure the victory.
Reflecting on the win, Darnold credited O’Connell’s confidence in him and the team’s preparation for those high-pressure situations. Running back Cam Akers, whose diving catch sealed the win, called the postgame celebration “electric” and praised Darnold’s hard work and leadership.
With the playoffs in sight, the Vikings’ locker room energy mirrors the growing belief that this team—behind its unexpectedly stellar quarterback—might be ready for a deep postseason run. As Darnold continues to rewrite his narrative, his teammates remain firmly behind him, ready to follow their leader into the biggest game of the season.
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