Minnesota Vikings’ Sam Darnold Named 2024 Most Improved Player

Earlie in the week the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) voted Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell as the the Coach of the Year. Now they have set their sights on another Vikings leader for a much coveted award.

For the 2024-2024 season, the Pro Football Writers of America have selected Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold as the 'Most Improved Player' of the year.

Quarterbacks have been recent recipients of the award, with Baker Mayfield taking the trophy a year ago, and Geno Smith claiming the prize following the 2022-2023 season.

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At 27-years-old, Sam Darnold led the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 regular season record, with a nine game winning streak in the middle of that season.

With 361-of-545 passing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions, Darnold posted a passer rating of 102.5, 10 points higher than his previous high set in 2022.

Darnold became the first quarterback in Minnesota Vikings history to post a passer rating of 100-plus in each of the team's first four games to start a season, tying the longest streak among all quarterbacks in the NFL since 1970.

Now, much speculation surrounds the moves the Minnesota Vikings will make surrounding the quarterbacks on their roster. Rumors have the Vikings trading Sam Darnold, while others have the team dealing J.J. McCarthy, drafted with the teams first pick last year.

The Vikings currently have four quarterbacks on the roster, including Sam Darnold, J.J. McCarthy, Daniel Jones, and Nick Mullens.

Darnold was the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the New York Jets. From the Jets to the Panthers to the 49ers was the path before being inked to a one-year deal with the Vikings for $10 million prior to last season.

Will Darnold be a Viking for the 2025-2026 season? Stay tuned.