Sam Darnold and Josh Allen began their NFL journeys together when they were drafted just a few minutes apart in 2018. Now the two quarterbacks are division rivals, but that hasn’t stopped them from forming a close friendship at the onset of their careers.
Allen was recently on SiriusXM NFL Radio and spoke about his relationship with Darnold. The Bills gunslinger said that Darnold was “one of the greatest dudes” he’s been around and added that he’s been able to count on the Jet for just about anything.
“We’ve been able to rely on each other,” Allen said. “Just kind of lean on each other I guess and just throughout the year. Texting each other and just making sure like we’re both doing OK, and we’re both adjusting well to it. So we’ve kind of had similar situations and it’s fun to have somebody like that that’s kind of going through the same things.”
The two AFC East quarterbacks have spent time together this offseason in Southern California while working with their trainer, Jordan Palmer. Darnold and Allen, both California natives, got to know each other before they got drafted in 2018.
So far in head-to-head matchups, Darnold has the edge over Allen, 2-1. Darnold’s first win over Allen was in 2018 when the Jets squeaked out a 27-23 win in Buffalo. Allen got his revenge in Week 1 last season when the Bills beat the Jets, 17-16. Darnold beat the Bills again in Week 17, 13-6. However, the Bills had clinched a playoff spot at that point and Allen only threw five passes before being subbed out for Matt Barkley.
Entering 2020, expectations are higher than ever for the third-year quarterbacks. Allen’s Bills are arguably the division favorites, while the pressure is on Darnold to make a significant leap in the department of consistency.
Whatever the new year throws at them, though, it sounds like the two will have someone to talk it over with.