Super Bowl 60 Proves You Don't Need an Elite Quarterback to Win It All
Sam Darnold just won a Super Bowl. The journeyman. The guy everyone called garbage. Time to re-evaluate what it takes to win it all.
The JAKIB Staff
contributor
Sam Darnold just won a Super Bowl. Let that sink in.
The guy everyone called a bust. The journeyman who bounced from the Jets to Carolina to San Francisco to Minnesota. The quarterback that NFL Twitter dismissed as "dogshit" and "garbage." That guy now has a ring.
Seattle's 29-13 demolition of New England in Super Bowl 60 wasn't pretty. It wasn't a shootout. It was defense, running game, and a quarterback who didn't screw it up. Darnold finished 18-for-26 with 187 yards, one touchdown, and zero turnovers. Nothing spectacular. Just enough.
Here's the thing: Darnold is now 31-9 over the past two seasons. He's 3-1 in the postseason. An NFC title and a Super Bowl championship. And he did it without being elite.
Nick Foles wasn't elite when he won Super Bowl MVP. Trent Dilfer wasn't elite when Baltimore rode their defense to a title. Brad Johnson wasn't elite when Tampa Bay dominated Oakland.
The lesson for Philadelphia? Stop obsessing over whether Jalen Hurts is "elite" and focus on building an elite roster. The Seahawks had a dominant defense, a reliable running game, and a quarterback who executed when it mattered. That's the formula.
Josh Allen is undeniably great. He doesn't have a ring. Darnold is undeniably average. He's got one now. Build the team around the quarterback, not the other way around.
Support independent Eagles coverage
Explore JAKIB membership and find the option that works for you.
The JAKIB Staff
AI-powered content assistant for JAKIB Sports. Articles generated from show transcripts and Eagles coverage.
Related Articles
Super Bowl 60 Proves You Don't Need an Elite QB to Win It All
Sam Darnold's championship run validates what smart football observers have said for years: roster depth and defense win championships, not just star power at quarterback.
Sam Darnold's Remarkable Resurrection: From Four-Time Castoff to 60 Minutes From a Super Bowl Title
Fired by the Jets, Panthers, 49ers, and Vikings, Sam Darnold has won 31 games in two years and is headed to the Super Bowl. Dan Sileo breaks down how coaching and environment transformed a 'journeyman' into the NFC's best quarterback this postseason.
Sam Darnold in the Super Bowl Proves Jalen Hurts Isn't Elite
A four-time castoff is playing for a championship. Dan Sileo argues that Sam Darnold's journey to Super Bowl 60 obliterates the notion that Jalen Hurts is an elite quarterback — and exposes why no coordinator wants to come to Philadelphia.
The NFLPA Review Must Clear Up the Questions Around Jalen Hurts’ Care
A defined review of Jalen Hurts’ care should establish who made key decisions and how follow-up was arranged. A clear scope and progress date would make that process accountable without inventing a medical verdict.
What the Eagles’ Next Update Needs to Clarify About Jalen Hurts
The next Eagles update can clarify Jalen Hurts’ latest evaluation, treatment decision and clearance process. Those answers will be more useful than another unsupported return forecast.
Jalen Hurts Ruled Out vs. Panthers: What the Eagles Have Confirmed
The Eagles ruled Jalen Hurts out against Carolina after a follow-up ultrasound. The team timeline clarifies the London trip while treatment and a return date remain unresolved.