It's been a long wait, but it's finally over. Twelve years later, the Seattle Seahawks have punched their Super Bowl tickets for the fourth time in franchise history. Hopefully, they will bring the Vince Lombardi trophy home for the second time.
Notably, the Seahawks didn't need much time to get back on their feet after Russell Wilson's departure. The team is in Year 4 of the post-Wilson era, and in just two years with head coach Mike Macdonald, they got back to the biggest stage.
Nonetheless, Wilson will forever be tied to the organization. That's why, right after they beat the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, the former third-round pick took to social media to tip his hat to Sam Darnold.
Russell Wilson praises Seattle Seahawks' Sam Darnold's career revival
"Sam Darnold’s comeback story over the past 2 years has been one of the most inspirational things to watch! Cool seeing him overcome!!! Congrats bro. Hope you win it! 🏆Go Hawks," Wilson wrote on X.
The decision to move on from Wilson was met with mixed reviews at the time. It didn't take long before it proved to be the right call, though. GM John Schneider was also quick to move on from Geno Smith, finding a franchise cornerstone in Sam Darnold after his breakout year with the Minnesota Vikings.
Even after getting a three-year deal with the Seahawks and leading them to a 14-win season, some still doubted whether he could get the job done in big moments. He responded by taking down the same Rams team that eliminated him from the playoffs and picked him off six times this season.
Darnold had probably the best game of his career in the biggest moment. He got started with a 51-yard bomb to Rashid Shaheed on the first drive to set up the first touchdown of the game, and he finished the night with 25 completions on 36 tries for 346 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
There were more than enough reasons to have doubts about Darnold. History wasn't on his side, and this sports' narrative will always be more quarterback-centric than it should be. That being said, he had also done more than enough to earn the benefit of the doubt.
Now, he'll have the opportunity of a lifetime. He can finally get rid of the ghosts that chased him in the AFC East years ago by taking down the New England Patriots in the final game of the season. Who would've said that he'd be the first QB of the 2018 class to make it to the Super Bowl?