Jets Fans Torn as Former Quarterback Sam Darnold Faces Patriots in Super Bowl

For fans of the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, the Super Bowl can’t arrive soon enough. Meanwhile, loyal followers of the New York Jets may find themselves wanting to skip the big game entirely. This Sunday, two potential outcomes hang in the balance for them: either Sam Darnold, the former quarterback once seen as the franchise’s savior, will lead Seattle to its first NFL championship since 2014, or their bitter rival, New England, will add another trophy to its already impressive collection.

For Jordan Kamzan, a 34-year-old from Long Beach, New York, the choice is straightforward. “It could be anyone playing the Patriots,” he remarked, “I’d be cheering for him.” Connor Hughes, an NFL reporter covering the Jets and the New York Giants for SNY, offered a more blunt perspective. “If the Patriots win the Super Bowl, that’s when the whole world will just come crashing down on the Jets fan,” Hughes stated.

The rivalry between the Jets and Patriots can be traced back to 1960, both originally part of the American Football League before the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. Since then, they’ve faced each other numerous times as part of the AFC East division. While New England leads the overall series 77-56-1, their dominance has been even more pronounced in recent years. From 2000 onward, the Patriots boast a 40-12 record in regular-season matchups, along with six Super Bowl victories and 18 division titles.

Jets fans had hoped for a changing tide when legendary quarterback Tom Brady departed the Patriots in 2020, followed by coach Bill Belichick’s departure in 2024. Yet, just two years later, New England is back on the Super Bowl stage with promising talent at the helm. Drake Maye, a second-year quarterback out of North Carolina, has thrust the Patriots back into contention, collecting 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions this season. Under the guidance of new head coach Mike Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker with three Super Bowl wins, the team’s rapid resurgence has been remarkable.

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel speaks with quarterback Drake Maye after their victory in the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos in Denver.

The Vikings’ interest in Vrabel nearly led him to the Jets instead, according to Hughes. While en route to accept the Patriots’ position, the Jets extended lucrative offers to sway his decision, yet Vrabel remained steadfast. As a result, New York turned to Aaron Glenn, then-defensive coordinator of Detroit Lions, appointing him head coach for a disappointing 3-14 season. “Now, they have Aaron Glenn coming off a three-win season while picking second overall in the upcoming NFL draft,” Hughes stated.

The New York Jets have not tasted playoff success in 15 seasons. “Many might call them lovable losers, but they’re not even that,” added Kamzan. “What’s there to love?” In 2018, fans pinned their hopes on Sam Darnold, drafted No. 3 overall, but he went 13-25 as a starting quarterback plagued by off-field mishaps that became viral memes. One infamous moment involved a graphic of “Out Indefinitely: Mononucleosis,” another involved Darnold admitting he was “seeing ghosts” during a rout by the Patriots on “Monday Night Football.” Despite leaving the Jets in 2020, many do not solely blame Darnold.

“The Jets practically laid the groundwork for a quarterback to fail,” Hughes explained. “Between the players surrounding him, the offensive line, and coaching, it was never conducive to success.” Analysts recognize Darnold’s potential, evidenced by his improved performance elsewhere. After a stint backing up with the San Francisco 49ers, Darnold flourished with the Minnesota Vikings and currently the Seahawks, achieving 4,048 passing yards and 25 touchdowns while forging a potent connection with receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. During the NFC championship against the Los Angeles Rams, he completed nearly 70% of his passes for 346 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

The sentiments of fans are mixed regarding the upcoming Super Bowl. Corey Celt, a 36-year-old from Commack, New York, expressed contentment without resentment towards Darnold. “It’s a choice between the Patriots and Sam Darnold. Picking Sam seems obvious,” he mentioned. As for potential “what-ifs,” Kamzan didn’t waver: “If the Jets had better management, could Sam have become the franchise quarterback? But, it is what it is. It’s the Jets.”

Greg Rosenstein is the sports editor for NBC News Digital.