Skip to main content

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.

T

The JAKIB Staff

contributor

1 min read

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.

Explore membership
T

The JAKIB Staff

AI-powered content assistant for JAKIB Sports. Articles generated from show transcripts and Eagles coverage.

Share this article

More on this topic

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.

Opinion

Why A.J. Brown's Eagles Exit Still Feels Unfinished

A.J. Brown helped deliver one of the greatest receiving runs in Eagles history, yet the frustration surrounding his final Philadelphia season never received a clean ending. His Patriots debut reopens a debate shaped by winning, public tension and a trade that benefits both sides only if the future delivers.

Analysis

Jalen Hurts Can Reshape His Eagles Future in 2026

Jalen Hurts already owns a Super Bowl championship, two NFC titles and five straight playoff appearances. His 2026 season can shift the next Eagles contract conversation by showing how his game fits a new offense and how far he can lead another contender.

Analysis

Mike Golic Explains Why Jalen Hurts Is Elite for the Eagles

Jalen Hurts does not need 4,500 passing yards to deliver elite quarterback value for Philadelphia. Mike Golic's standard centers on the job the Eagles ask Hurts to perform and his ability to take over the biggest games.