EAGAN, Minn. — It was a season almost no one saw coming — at least outside Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.

When Kirk Cousins departed for Atlanta during free agency after six seasons, the Vikings created multiple options at the quarterback position.

Sam Darnold signed a one-year deal in March, a month-plus before Minnesota drafted J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick (after a quick trade with the Jets from the 11^th spot).

The two participated in the offseason program, pushing each other's game. McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in the Vikings preseason opener, sidelining him the rest of the way. It ended the competition at the position but not the positive relationship.

While preseason prognosticators diminished what the Vikings could do, Darnold continued to advance through Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's system.

The flourishing began in in training camp and extended into early fall with 12 consecutive completions to open Minnesota's Week 1 game at the New York Giants for a 28-6 victory. The dozen strikes tied former Viking and Giant Fran Tarkenton (Nov. 13, 1977) for the second most to open a game in team history.

The blooms continued in one of the finest seasons by a Vikings quarterback as Darnold helped the Vikings go 4-0 in September. Or should we say "Samtember," since he won NFC Offensive Player of the Month honors.

The Vikings also remained unbeaten on international soil by topping the Jets 23-17 at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 5. Darnold needed to leave for one snap because he was shaken up, and Nick Mullens stepped in and converted a third-and-4 with a 24-yard completion to Aaron Jones, Sr., in the first quarter.

Darnold returned on the next snap, but the Vikings fumbled the pitch from him to Ty Chandler. Quincy Williams scooped it and returned the ball 15 yards, but Darnold caught up to the linebacker and pushed him to the turf for a touchdown-saving tackle.

After a 31-29 home loss to Detroit in which Darnold completed 81.5 percent of his passes for 259 yards and a touchdown but also suffered an interception, the Vikings fell on the road at the L.A. Rams. Darnold was pulled down by the face mask in Minnesota's end zone without penalty, resulting in a safety that denied the Vikings a chance to tie the game late.

Darnold and the Vikings again bounced back, embarking on a nine-game winning streak from Week 9 against the Colts through a Week 17 defeat of the Packers for a season sweep of the division rival.

In becoming the first Vikings QB to win two games against Green Bay in the same season since Case Keenum in 2017, Darnold threw for career highs in completions (33) and passing yards (377). He added three passing scores for the second consecutive week, bringing his total for November and December to 21.

Teammates welcomed Darnold back to the locker room by dousing him with water and hoisting him in the air, a moment that O'Connell stood back and relished.

All told, Darnold was part of tying or breaking 35 records by a Vikings QB, either against a particular opponent, within a game, month or season, as well as setting the NFL record for wins by a QB in his first season with a team (14 — which topped 13 each by Peyton Manning and Steve McNair).

But the Vikings were unable to roll their run into January. Minnesota entered Week 18 with a chance to win the NFC North and the No. 1 seed in the NFC (which was accompanied by a first-round bye and home-field advantage), but the offense struggled in the red zone at Detroit. That loss dropped the Vikings to becoming the first 14-win Wild Card in NFL history and the No. 5 seed for a game against the NFC West Champion Los Angeles Rams.

The playoff contest was relocated to Arizona because of wildfires in L.A. It was the first time an NFL Playoff game had been relocated since 1936.

The Rams were able to apply pressure early and often, recording six sacks in the first half.

Notable Numbers

12 – Darnold led the NFL with 12 games with at least two passing touchdowns and a passer rating of 100 or higher.

157.9 – The NFL maximum passer rating formula tops out at 158.3. It's hard to believe Darnold's line against the Falcons — 22-of-28 passing for 347 yards and five touchdowns — didn't reach that, but his day was good enough for a new Vikings single-game record of 157.9 that topped the 157.2 by Gus Frerotte against San Francisco on Sept. 28, 2003 (minimum of 20 pass attempts in a game).

The Highest High

Let's go with a "DeSamber" to remember because it's hard to differentiate the comeback win against the Cardinals, followed by his highlight reel against the Falcons, a sweep over the Bears (and while wearing the Winter Warrior uniform for the first time in team history, the game-winning touchdown pass at the Seahawks and the fancy passing against the Packers. Add them all up, and it was an incredible month of 5-0 football.

Darnold set a new team record for the most TD passes in a December game with the five-spot against the Falcons (also the most thrown by a Viking in any game against Atlanta) and for the highest passer rating during the month all-time (115.0).

He also hit new team highs for passing yards (1,436) and touchdowns (14) during the month.

The Lowest Low

Unfortunately Darnold was able to add another nicknamed month to the calendar. He struggled against heavy pressure by the Lions in the Week 18 finale.

Darnold completed 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards with no touchdowns. The completion percentage of 43.9 was a season low, and his 55.5 passer rating was his third lowest of the season — just one of four times that his passer rating was below 100 during the regular season. There were a couple of early opportunities in the red zone that he'd like to have back.

2 Pressing Questions for 2025

1. Will the Vikings re-sign Sam Darnold?

Darnold authentically explained how much he enjoyed his first season with Minnesota and O'Connell. He demonstratively outplayed his one-year, $10-million contract, putting himself in conversations for being a sought-after free agent.

Will the 27-year-old be enticed/receive an offer too good to pass up?

Will the Vikings set a max limit on an offer for him and welcome him back if a deal can be reached? Will they direct resources elsewhere on the roster if he departs. If that sounds familiar, all you have to do is look back to a year ago when the team set an offer for Cousins to return and did not get into a bidding war. Instead, the Vikings planned for the outcome of Cousins' departure and were ready to direct resources elsewhere on the roster in free agency.

2. Will the car keys go to McCarthy?

McCarthy's sample size for on-field demonstration against competitive, live reps was limited by his knee injury, but he impressed and gave plenty of reasons to be excited about his potential as Minnesota's QB of the future.

The 22-year-old (as of Jan. 20 — HBD!) was able to garner multiple valuable learning lessons from time spent in meetings and practices, as well as the time he spent on the sidelines once he was medically cleared to be there.

He and Brett Rypien, who spent most of 2024 leading Minnesota's scout team offense and signed a futures contract, are the only two QBs from this past season who are under contract.

Mullens and Daniel Jones are scheduled to become free agents but also good be part of Minnesota's multipronged approach at the sport's most important position.