Vikings' Sam Darnold Won't Meet NFL Comeback POTY Award Criteria Under New Guidelines

It sounds like Sam Darnold will not be in contention for the 2024 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reported that Darnold will not qualify for the award due to updated guidelines for voters this year that shift the focus toward players who faced a hardship that led to the player missing time the prior season.

According to Maaddi, "The spirit of the award is to honor a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury or other circumstances that led him to miss playing time the previous season."

Darnold did not miss time due to injury, illness or another extenuating circumstance in 2023. He simply served as the backup to Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers, and signed with the Vikings to battle for the starting spot.

The path to that role was cleared when 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy went down for the season with a torn meniscus, and it's safe to say he has seized the opportunity. Darnold has thrown for 1,111 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions thus far in 2024, leading the Vikings to a 5-0 start.

The former first-round pick looks revitalized and could relay his play this year into another opportunity that has some more long-term security. He is currently on a one-year deal and will be an unrestricted free agent following the season.

While he is ineligible for the Comeback Player of the Year Award, he has emerged as an early MVP candidate and is likely content to simply be excelling for a successful team with Super Bowl aspirations.