If there was any debate left, it ended in a shower of cheers and water — on the shoulders of teammates and celebrated by the Minnesota Vikings’ social media account — in full view of head coach Kevin O’Connell, who looked on with a smile as he watched Sam Darnold get hoisted into the air.
The Vikings have their quarterback. A week from now, they may have the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, too.
After a rousing 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, which gave Darnold his 14th win as a starter this season — more than any quarterback in a single season in Vikings history and the most ever by an NFL QB in his first year with a team — the debate about his future has likely ended.