Sam Darnold got dumped by the New York Jets. Now he's winning the breakup.
- Sam Darnold has the Carolina Panthers off to a 3-0 start.
- The hot streak of play comes on the heels of Darnold getting dumped by the New York Jets.
- Simply put, Sam Darnold is winning the breakup.
Breakups are hard.
When two parties who once saw a future together slowly realize that their fates lie elsewhere, things can get messy. Hearts are broken, harsh words are said, people have to move.
In the case of Sam Darnold, who was dumped by the Jets in the offseason so the team could devote their full love and attention to rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, the breakup included a move from New York to North Carolina, where he took over the starting job for the Panthers.
Through three games with his new team, Darnold doesn't appear to be missing his old flame that much.
On Thursday night, Darnold led the Panthers to their third straight win in an undefeated start to the season, taking care of business against a depleted Houston Texans team in primetime.
Darnold threw for 304 yards and rushed for two touchdowns. It was his second straight game throwing 300 yards for the Panthers, after putting up 279 yards in the season opener against his old team.
In three seasons with the Jets, Darnold threw for 300 yards just four times. Last year, he threw for more than 230 yards just once. With Carolina, Darnold has looked like a brand new man.
After his big game on Thursday night, Darnold was asked point blank about the shift in his play - what's the biggest difference between his time in New York and his time with the Panthers.
"I don't want to talk too much about New York to be honest with you," Darnold said. "That's in the past for me."
"The New York Jets?" Darnold all but asks. "I've never heard of her."
Breakups are hard, but sometimes one relationship needs to end so another can blossom. Darnold and the Panthers appear to have a bright future ahead of them.
As the happy new couple walks into the sunset, the Jets are left hoping things work out with Zach Wilson, all the while scrolling through Darnold's Instagram page, an anxious thumb hovering above a screen never to be double-tapped.