Jets Country

Sam Darnold's Advice to the Jets' Next Quarterback: 'Just Have Fun'

Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold gave advice to who will replace him at QB on the New York Jets, telling them to have fun and enjoy Jets fans

Max Goodman

As Sam Darnold's first presser as a member of the Carolina Panthers began to wrap up on Monday, the former Jets quarterback was asked to give some advice to his eventual replacement in New York.

Darnold thought for a moment before delivering this message.

"Just have fun with it," Darnold said. "At the end of the day, it's football. There's the business aspect which I found out a week ago. Have fun with it, it's football at the end of the day, you have great coaches over there to be able to lean on and great people in the organization, great people in Jersey and in New York. Jets fans are one of a kind, but I'll be forever grateful for those fans because they taught me so much about myself. I'm just very thankful for the people around the organization."

It's unclear as of now who exactly will replace Darnold under center in green and white, but general manager Joe Douglas did say last week that it's a "fair assessment" New York will draft a quarterback with the No. 2 pick.

All signs point toward the Jets taking BYU quarterback Zach Wilson second overall, though. 

Darnold went on to say that he has nothing but "respect" for the Jets. While he knows deep down that he could've turned the franchise around if he was given the chance, he's moving on and focusing on his next opportunity.

"I believed I could make it work in New York," he said. "Now that the trade has happened, obviously that frame of thinking doesn't do me any good anymore. I'm ready to start here in Carolina and hit the ground running."

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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