Sam Darnold makes history: Only QB from stacked 2018 Draft to win a Super Bowl
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold became the first quarterback from his stacked draft class to win a Super Bowl.
The 2018 NFL Draft was widely regarded as one of the deepest quarterback classes in recent memory, featuring Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, Lamar Jackson, and Sam Darnold. For years, fans debated which signal-caller would leave a lasting mark on the league, but few thought it would be Darnold.
On Sunday night, Darnold defied all expectations.
Leading the Seattle Seahawks past the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, Darnold became the first and only quarterback from his draft class to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. The win cements Darnold’s legacy and rewrites the narrative around the group.
Sam Darnold’s 2018 star-studded Draft class
Darnold entered the league as the No. 3 overall pick, and it really was a stacked draft class.
Quarterbacks
- Baker Mayfield (No. 1 overall, Browns)
- Sam Darnold (No. 3 overall, Jets)
- Josh Allen (No. 7 overall, Bills)
- Josh Rosen (No. 10 overall, Cardinals)
- Lamar Jackson (No. 32 overall, Ravens)
That QB group alone is historic. It produced an MVPs (Lamar, Allen), perennial Super Bowl contenders, and multiple long-term starters. All made their mark in the league, but only one has claimed football’s ultimate prize.
Other standout stars from the class
- Saquon Barkley (RB, Giants) - No. 2 overall
- Quenton Nelson (G, Colts) – All-Pro mainstay
- Denzel Ward (CB, Browns)
- Jaire Alexander (CB, Packers)
- Derwin James (S, Chargers)
- Roquan Smith (LB, Bears)
This draft class also produced elite non-QB talent like Quenton Nelson, Denzel Ward, Jaire Alexander, Derwin James, and Roquan Smith, highlighting just how loaded the 2018 draft really was. But it’s the quarterbacks who defined expectations, and now, Darnold stands alone as the one who delivered on the sport’s biggest stage.
Throughout the championship game, Darnold showcased poise, vision, and clutch execution, navigating a Patriots defense that had been relentless all season. With the win, he not only silences critics who questioned his career trajectory but also becomes a benchmark for comparing the 2018 QB crop.
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