EAGAN, Minn. – Call it "Sam-tember," if you'd like.
The NFL on Thursday named Sam Darnold the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September.
The announcement occurred several hours before the Vikings travel to London, where Darnold will play his first NFL game on international soil and attempt to help Minnesota return with a 5-0 record.
In his first four games as a Viking, the quarterback has helped lead Minnesota to four consecutive wins to start a season for the first time since the 2016 campaign that opened 5-0.
Darnold is the first Vikings QB to start 4-0 since Brett Favre in 2009 and only the fourth in franchise history (Daunte Culpepper in 2003 and Fran Tarkenton in 1975). He is the only NFL QB in the Super Bowl era to open the season with four consecutive wins and throw two-plus touchdowns in each of those games.
Over the past four weeks, Darnold went 73-of-106 passing for 932 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions with a passer rating of 118.9. His 68.9 completion percentage thus far is a career high.
Darnold's most dominant outing this season arguably was in Week 3 against the Texans, when he averaged 14.3 yards per completion, racked up four touchdown passes and committed no interceptions. His passer rating of 123.4 at Green Bay last week, however, was his highest since Week 12 of the 2019 season and third highest of his career.
Darnold has excelled against the blitz, going 18-of-20 passing for 335 yards and four touchdowns with an NFL maximum passer rating of 158.3.
The 27-year-old has helped the Vikings stand as the NFC's only undefeated team headed into Week 5 – and one of only two in the league, joining the Chiefs.
Darnold currently leads all quarterbacks in touchdown passes, with the next closest being Baker Mayfield (8).
His 8.8 yards per completion rank second in the NFL behind Brock Purdy (9.3)
Darnold began the month by completing his first 12 passes as a Viking in Minnesota's Week 1 win at the New York Giants, tying Fran Tarkenton for the second most completions to start a game.
All-Time NFC Offensive Players of the Month
Darnold is the 12th different Viking to win NFC Offensive Player of the Month honors and second under Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell.
1997, September: Jake Reed, WR
1998, October: Randall Cunningham, QB
1999, November: Cris Carter, WR
2000, November: Robert Smith, RB
2003, September: Daunte Culpepper, QB
2004, October: Daunte Culpepper, QB
2009, November: Brett Favre, QB
2012, December: Adrian Peterson, RB
2015, November: Adrian Peterson, RB
2017, November: Case Keenum, QB
2019, October: Kirk Cousins, QB
2020, November: Dalvin Cook, RB
2021, November: Justin Jefferson, WR
2022, November: Justin Jefferson, WR
2024, September: Sam Darnold, QB
