Freed from Adam Gase, Sam Darnold and Robby Anderson hook up for impressive touchdown

Add Sam Darnold’s name to the ever-expanding list of players whose fortunes improved once they were freed from Adam Gase.

At this point, there should be a support group for all the NFL players whose fortunes have improved dramatically after they were freed from the clutches of Adam Gase. The former Dolphins and Jets head coach, who got more out of keeping the hot drinks hot and the cool drinks cool for Peyton Manning in Denver than he ever should have, has displayed a unique ability to tank real NFL-level talent, and it’s only after these players are out of Gase’s orbit that they’re able to play to their potential.

Ryan Tannehill. Jarvis Landry. DeVante Parker. Kenyan Drake. Mike Gesicki. Damien Williams. Jordan Phillips. On and on the list goes. When former Jets and current Panthers receiver Robby Anderson was tied to Gase in 2019, he was used primarily as a deep receiver because Gase didn’t understand his more versatile abilities. Then, Anderson signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Panthers before the 2020 season, had a career year (of course), and recently earned himself a two-year, $29.5 million contract extension.

Anderson left Sam Darnold behind in 2020, Gase’s final year as an NFL head coach, and you can guess how that went. Darnold regressed, throwing just nine touchdowns to 11 interceptions, the Jets finished 2-14, and the franchise traded Darnold to the Panthers because Zach Wilson was the long-term plan.

It did not take long for Darnold and Anderson to renew their acquaintance against the Steelers on Friday night.

Darnold threw just two passes in the Panthers’ first two preseason games, completing one for 16 yards, but against the Steelers, he completed 19 of 25 passes for 162 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 119.1 before hitting the bench in favor of backup P.J. Walker.

Based on precedent, it could easily be argued that we never really knew what kind of quarterback Sam Darnold could be when he was forced to play for the worst head coach of this era, and so far, that argument looks pretty solid.

Add his name to the list.