Steelers Become Surprise Team Expected to Make Sam Darnold an Offer
The list of teams interested in Sam Darnold just got an addition and it’s a surprising one.
Darnold is set to become a free agent after an excellent season with the Minnesota Vikings and should be able to land a big contract in a market that includes a lot of quarterback-needy teams. On Sunday we learned of a shocking team that is expected to make an offer to the 27-year-old.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini is reporting the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to make an offer to Darnold. Though most around the league expect him to wind up with the Seattle Seahawks, the Steelers are a fascinating entrant into the Darnold sweepstakes.
Conventional wisdom had the Steelers re-signing Justin Fields and turning the offense over to him after he spent most of 2024 backing up Russell Wilson. Wilson is hitting free agency as well, and the telegraphed move was for Fields to be back in Pittsburgh.
This Darnold report adds a wrinkle, though. After the Seahawks traded Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders they have been seen as the most likely destination for Darnold. The Tennessee Titans would also make sense. The Steelers are surprising.
Darnold was in his first season with the Vikings in 2024 and shined. He completed 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards, with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He set career-highs in every major category, including passer rating (102.5) and QBR (60.4). The Vikings opted against bringing him back as former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy appears ready to take over.
It appears multiple teams are chasing Darnold and that group now includes the Steelers.
Ryan Phillips is a senior writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has worked in digital media since 2009, spending eight years at The Big Lead before joining SI in 2024. Phillips also co-hosts The Assembly Call Podcast about Indiana Hoosiers basketball and previously worked at Bleacher Report. He is a proud San Diego native and a graduate of Indiana University’s journalism program.
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Ryan Phillips | 6 Hours Ago
Pittsburgh Steelers to extend offer to Pro Bowl quarterback in free agency
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) jogs onto the field as players warm up before the Detroit Lions take on the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 5, 2024 at Ford Field.Jake May | jmay2@mlive.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to extend an offer to quarterback Sam Darnold at the start of free agency tomorrow, according to Dianna Russini of the Athletic.
Darnold, who was a Pro Bowler in 2024, has received interest from multiple teams, including the Seattle Seahawks, who recently traded Geno Smith.
The Seahawks look for veteran quarterback options, though two league sources have told PennLive that Russell Wilson is not expected to be among the options for Seattle. Darnold seems to be the frontrunner, although they will have competition.
Darnold is the most expensive option the Steelers could go after this offseason after an excellent season with the Vikings. He led Minnesota to a 14-3 record while earning himself some MVP votes.
Darnold threw for 4319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions. His end to the season, including a poor playoff loss, has dampened his stock after a strong 16 games to start the year. That has led to some buyers being wary of Darnold, but it seems the Steelers will make a pursuit at him with Justin Fields’ future up in the air.
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