Awards season is in full swing, and the Minnesota Vikings keep stacking them.
On Thursday, the franchise doubled up in voting for honors distributed by Sporting News, which has passed out NFL superlatives for 70 seasons: First-year Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was tabbed Comeback Player of the Year, and Head Coach Kevin O’Connell received Coach of the Year distinction.
The former award was introduced by Sporting News in 2008, the same year that the media outlet adapted its balloting to be determined by NFL players, coaches and executives. Darnold is the second Viking to win the aforementioned honor, joining future Pro Football Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson in 2012; Peterson also clinched Sporting News‘ Offensive Player of the Year recognition in his MVP season.
Darnold, who accumulated career highs in completion rate (66.2 percent), passing yards (4,319) and passing touchdowns (35) in addition to numerous other statistical categories and was elected to his first Pro Bowl, was preceded as winner of the Comeback Player of the Year award by six straight QBs, starting with Andrew Luck, and then Jimmy Garoppolo, Alex Smith, Dak Prescott, Geno Smith and Tua Tagovailoa.
After becoming the first Vikings quarterback to win 14 games in a regular season – and forthright repairing his reputation as a capable starter – Darnold has been touted as a hot player eligible for free agency and a contender for Comeback Player of the Year at next Thursday’s NFL Honors in New Orleans. Darnold also was picked as the Most Improved Player on Jan. 24 by the Pro Football Writers of America.
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