The NFL won’t present its Comeback Player Of the Year award until February 6, but the public knows who they want to win.
On Thursday, FOX Sports announced that Sam Darnold won its fan-voted 2024 Comeback Player Of the Year.
It’s one of several accolades Darnold has received for his performance in 2024. The former 3rd-overall-pick was also voted to the 2025 Pro Bowl games after passing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 record.
Your 2024 Comeback Player of the Year is @Vikings‘ QB Sam Darnold, as voted on by NFL on FOX fans!
pic.twitter.com/13Kf3mxgD3
— NFL on FOX Podcast (@NFLonFOXPod) January 31, 2025
That wasn’t the only highlight of Darnold’s night. Thursday was also the first night of the Pro Bowl Games. He scored 39 in the “Passing the Test” game, with quarterbacks throwing to moving targets scored from one to five points each. Darnold finished the game five points behind Jared Goff.
Sammy D was ripping it
: #ProBowlGames @ESPN | @ABC pic.twitter.com/3Y2Lb5ebHt
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 31, 2025
The event won’t affect his chances of winning the NFL’s Comeback Player Of the Year award, as it’s only based on regular-season play. But it was another example of Darnold showing off his arm talent, which was a big reason he could bounce back and have a career year in 2024.