Sam Darnold just finished his second season with the Jets, but he already wants to follow Eli Manning’s lead and retire in New York.
“Eli’s had a heck of a career,” Darnold told SNY on Sunday, two days after Manning officially retired. “Hopefully that’s me one day.”
Darnold never played against Manning in the regular season — they faced off twice in the preseason — but he understands the legacy Manning leaves behind in New York after 16 seasons with the Giants. Manning delivered two Super Bowls to New York during his career and held a then-NFL record for most consecutive starts (210). Though there were ups and downs throughout his career, Manning cemented himself as a New York sports icon over his long career.
Darnold obviously has a long road ahead before he can be compared to Manning. The two-year pro has only played 26 games in his career, has yet to play in the postseason and has a few issues that need to be resolved. Darnold appears to have the makings of a great quarterback, though, and it’s encouraging for him to already be thinking about finishing his career in New York.
If the Jets want Darnold to have as long of and as successful of a career as Manning, they’ll need to build a better team around him. The past two seasons, Darnold’s only gone 11-15 with some horrid performances under his belt. This offseason will be critical for Darnold’s development and will hinge primarily on general manager Joe Douglas’ ability to bring in offensive line help and a few other offensive weapons to give Darnold the tools to succeed.
There is a path for Darnold to stake his claim as a New York legend among players like Manning, former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and former Jets great Joe Namath, but it’s only just beginning and certainly can’t be traveled alone.