QB Sam Darnold led the Seahawks to a 14-3 record this season and will become the first former USC signal caller to start in the Super Bowl. (Eric Thayer / LAT)Going into this year, according to the school, 120 former Trojans were on Super Bowl rosters, with 48 winning one or more titles.
Receiver Lynn Swann, running back Marcus Allen and linebacker Malcolm Smith were Super Bowl most valuable players.
“We’ve got our fingerprints all over that game,” Allen said of USC players.
Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart are among Trojans quarterbacks who played in the NFL. But USC never produced a starting quarterback in the Super Bowl.
Until now.
On Sunday, Sam Darnold will lead the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium.
“It’s so crazy,” Darnold said. “Just because I grew up idolizing a lot of those guys.”
Darnold was the third overall pick in the 2018 draft by the woeful New York Jets. After three seasons, he was traded to the Carolina Panthers. In 2023, he was the backup for the San Francisco 49ers — losers to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII — a year that helped him reset before signing with the Minnesota Vikings.
Darnold led the Vikings to 14 victories and a playoff appearance, but the team opted not to re-sign him, and the Seahawks gave him a three-year contract that included $55 million in guarantees.
Under coach Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, and with weapons such as receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp (here), Darnold passed for 25 touchdowns, with 14 interceptions, while leading the Seahawks to a 14-3 record and the No. 1 seed for the NFC playoffs.
“I’ve always believed in myself, and I’ve always had confidence in myself to do my job,” Darnold said. “And I learned. I learned a ton from mistakes I made early on in my career, and I feel like that kind of mindset has kind of got me to this point.”
Former USC quarterbacks are collectively celebrating Darnold, and the journey he endured to reach the NFL’s biggest stage.
“He’s been turned down, cut, not believed in,” said Palmer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 draft. “All the doubt is tough to deal with. You keep a proud smile on your face as you’re going through it, but it’s just tough on anybody.
“And so for him to finally get to the Super Bowl and have this opportunity, it’s so well-deserved.”
Leinart, a backup for the Arizona Cardinals 2009 Super Bowl team, is similarly elated for Darnold.
“For him to represent all of us, not just quarterbacks, but all the Trojan family,” Leinart said, “we’re fired up.”
Allen included.
“If there was a great example of a USC Trojan with that ‘Fight On’ attitude,” Allen said, “It’s been him.”
Five USC quarterbacks were on rosters, for all or part of a season, of teams that made the Super Bowl, but they did not play in the game, including Leinart, Rob Hertel with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981, Rob Johnson (Tampa Bay, 2003), Rodney Peete (Carolina, 2004) and Matt Cassel (New England, 2008).
Three USC quarterbacks — Willie Wood, Pete Beathard and Mike Rae — played in the Super Bowl.
Wood played at USC from 1957 to 1959, and was the first black quarterback in what was then the Pacific Coast Conference. No NFL team drafted him, but the Green Bay Packers signed Wood and he became a Hall of Fame safety who intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards in the Packers’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I in 1967. Beathard, Len Dawson’s backup, completed one of five passes for 17 yards for a team that featured Mike Garrett, the Trojans Heisman Trophy-winning running back.
Rae, the starting quarterback for USC’s 1972 national championship team, backed up Kenny Stabler for the Oakland Raiders team that won Super Bowl XI in 1977. Rae scrambled twice near the end of the Raiders’ 32-14 victory over the Vikings at the Rose Bowl.
Now, nearly a half-century later, Darnold will start for the Seahawks.
“He started his career with a bad team … and now he’s in the Super Bowl,” Rae said. “Gosh darn, you’ve got to slap him on the back.”
A few former Trojans quarterbacks came close to leading their teams to Super Bowls.
Pat Haden started for the Rams in 1978 when they lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC championship game. Late in the 1979 season, Haden suffered a broken finger on his throwing hand and Vince Ferragamo — a former California and Nebraska quarterback — stepped in and led the Rams to Super Bowl XIV at the Rose Bowl, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2015, the 12th of his 14 NFL seasons, Palmer led the Arizona Cardinals to the NFC championship game, where they lost to the Panthers.
Mark Sanchez, the fifth pick in the 2009 draft, led the New York Jets to the AFC championship in his first two seasons but lost to the Indianapolis Colts and Steelers.
Darnold got over the hump by passing for three touchdowns in a 31-27 victory over the Rams in the NFC championship game at Lumen Field in Seattle. Darnold has not had a pass intercepted in his last three games, a streak that includes playoff victories over the 49ers and Rams.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel lauded Darnold’s toughness, pointing to a sideline pass he completed to Kupp despite being “nailed” by the Rams in a Week 16 game.
“He didn’t shy away. He didn’t duck. He didn’t fade back,” Vrabel said. “He stood there and faced the fire, which is what you have to do in this league if you’re going to be an elite quarterback.”
Paul McDonald, the starter for USC’s 1978 national championship team, said Darnold’s talent has always been there. He finally found the right situation.
“Right team, right supporting cast, right coach that believes in you and a system that works for your strengths,” said McDonald, who played seven NFL seasons. “All those things have to kind of fall into place.”
Cassel saw it first hand.
He backed up Palmer and Leinart at USC before playing 14 NFL seasons, including three as seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady’s backup with the Patriots and one as the starter.
For Darnold to find the right situation, lead his team to Sunday’s game and become the first former Trojan to start is “remarkable,” Cassel said.
“He’s achieved something that nobody else has,” Cassel said. “That’s the cool part — it represents not only his story but the university.”
On Sunday, Darnold will be one of four former Trojans playing for the Seahawks, a group that includes defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Brandon Pili and linebacker Uchenna Nwosu.
If Darnold leads them to victory over the Patriots he will make more history as the first former Trojans quarterback to win a Super Bowl as a starter.
“It’s just an honor,” Darnold said, “an honor to be playing this game, to be representing the university.”
And all the Trojans quarterbacks that came before him.
latimes.com
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USC women, winners of five straight, beat the Hoosiers at Galen 79-73. The Lady Trojans went to the line 35 times. The Trojans are now 8-6 in B1G play, and 16-9 overall. Jazzy Davidson scored 24 points along with six rebounds and three steals. “You talk about overdelivering,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb said, “To be a freshman and carry the load for us and continue to grow, the numbers are really showing it … she’s just capable of doing almost anything on a basketball court. “She’s unique. I know there are several good freshmen in the country. We know how good… Read more »
Just watched an interview in which the head of AI at Microsoft said that the majority of tasks done by Lawyers, Project managers, Marketers, Accountants etc could be automated within the next 12 to 24 months.
For an old dinosaur like me this is not only scary but something I’am glad I did not have to endure.
I wonder how long til football becomes all AI robots? How would anyone be better…..more and faster chips? They could mandate that players be human.
Things sure are changing.
AI makes elementary intellectual mistakes in analyzing legal issues. Until AI offers E&O and malpractice insurance, you don’t want to go to an IRS audit let alone US Tax Court with Chat GBT as your representative.
I think technology is good…….but I’am sort of glad to hear it’s not quite ready to get rid of working people.
Thanks.
LLMs are susceptible to hallucinations, for sure.
Illini – I can help on this one. I am writing a book on what you would call philosophy. I have been working on it for about 11 years (after I retired from law). I started using AI about 2 years ago. I now use it about 20 hours per week and have done so for at least a year. In fact, I just got off using it for the last hour or so. AI is incredible, just incredible. But it is limited. It will not replace all attorneys. It will replace staffing in some transactions departments, like contracts, corporate… Read more »
You need to know your area of expertise cold and stand ready to tell AI “that’s wrong”. Half the time, they parse the incorrect data they provided.
That’s my experience too 72. AI is no doubt pretty amazing, especially in terms of speed, versatility and reach. But it’s got a long way to go if you want to outright depend on it based on my experience. While it’s a tremendous research shortcut already, it’s important to double-check details, question conclusions, and pursue alternate avenues if you expect to avoid inaccuracies.
Thank you for the feed back. Interesting comments. A lot to think about. I do own a few rentals so you started me thinking along a new line. Hope your book turns out well. As an investor I love it……but it is so stunning as regards the changes…..which I always thought would take 10-15 years. As with most technology I’am sure that it will improve (if that is what we want to call it) as time goes on. As one of my sons showed me……Something as simply as a thank you letter after an interview is now just a push… Read more »
Solomon Tuliaupupu has been granted a 9th year of eligibility at Montana University. He had 43 tackles last year. This kid may be playing when he’s 65 years old. Great Kid. I hope he plays pros.
Is this a typing error? Ninth year of eligibility? Am I missing something here?
No typing error
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/montana-lb-solomon-tuliaupupu-2018-usc-signee-ninth-year-of-collegiate-eligibility/
ATL DDS, this is the current confused state of eligibility affairs in college football. This ex USC linebacker had a litany of legitimate injuries, but he persists at age 26 years. To his credit, he’s earned a business BA and a masters. Conceivably, he could now enroll in a PhD program. There is a current federal lawsuit filed by Diego Pavia vs NCAA (the older QB from Vanderbilt) on behalf of JUCO players. Pavia is attempting to invalidate the 2 year JUCO rule, making them eligible for a full 6 years in college. The parties filed dueling briefs, with the… Read more »
Finally, a cure for insomnia is found!
I just read that Trinidad Chambliss has been granted another year, presumably at Ole Miss.
The NCAA got stuffed
AND THIS IS WHY THE NCAA WILL GET STUFFED YET AGAIN:
“The NCAA says that “if taken to its logical conclusion,” Pavia’s position “would permit student athletes to compete in, at minimum, 18 seasons of intercollegiate competition: two seasons of JUCO competition, four seasons in Division III competition, four seasons in Division II competition, four seasons of NAIA competition, only then to matriculate to a D-I member institution at roughly the age of 32 with a fresh four-season clock.” (emphasis from the NCAA’s brief).
Right . . .
Longer than an average pro career, so with some NIL money and luck with injuries, it might be a pretty good gig for those just below the NFL talent level. This brings new meaning to the term, “professional student.”
You truly can have a pro “career” now without ever playing NFL or Canadian ball. Not a bad score if you can get it while trying to figure out your adult life way of making money.
Chambliss is probably making some coin as Ole Miss’s QB but I doubt Solomon is making much at Montana. I would guess there will be guys who say, I’ve made a nice nest egg, I don’t want to move to the grind of the Pros, I’m moving on. Hope those guys are smart with there money.
If Solo can ever get totally healthy again he might have a chance at the pros. Remember, He was a 5 star coming out of Mater Dei high school and voted the number one defensive player in the country until he encountered one injury after another.
He looks too injury prone to go much farther. We all reach a point where our body can’t cut it. I bet he’s there.
2026 Trojan NFL combine participants (7): S Bishop Fitzgerald, LB Eric Gentry, WR Ja’Kobi Lane, WR Makai Lemon, TE Lake McRee, DE Anthony Lucas, S Kamari Ramsey
Well, the stage for USC football is set for 2026. For now, it’s still Kool-Aid season where wrong moves are downplayed or ignored, excuses are accepted, details are obfuscated, all unknowns are given the benefit of the doubt, and victories are heralded as program changing. There’s plenty of time for reality when the rubber meets the road. If LR doesn’t make the playoffs with this team, he’ll probably still get another crack at it unless he flat lines like in 2023 and 2024, which I sincerely doubt. The program has since been rebuilt around his deficiencies, which few of us… Read more »
At LB I’m counting 6 returning, 2 transfers and 3 recruits. Who’s making the starting lineup? Is there some talent here to work with?
Returning: Marchetti, DeFina, Stephens II, Robinson, Newby Walker
Transfers: Rufo, Bryant
Recruits: Ili, Scott, Johnson
Agree GT. Our LBs were awful last year. The only time they played well is when the DC had them run blitz. Lynn know the Os well enough to know where they would run, so he told the LBs where to attack. Unless we get drastically improved LB play, I doubt the D will improve that much. But, I expect that we will get that. My guess is Patterson will run the 4-2-5 because of DB talent and depth is excellent and our DL talent and depth is excellent. Our LB room is the weakest on the team, IMO.
It’s Hot Seat City Nowadays for CFB Head Coaches Question — “Is Steve Sarkisian on the hot seat after this year’s flop? Texas did not have the most epic season, but to send that many contributors packing from a top-12 team seems unprecedented. Is Sarkisian a mad genius kicking his team up a level? Panicked at the prospect of missing the Playoff again?” Stewart Mandel (The Athletic) — The takeaway from last season’s wild coaching carousel is that pretty much the entire sport is on the hot seat from year to year now. Penn State’s James Franklin went from coaching… Read more »
So looks like after all the turnover in the D staff, USC looks to have a very capable staff. Some veteran coaches, some up an comers, some of Patterson’s guys and some promoted within. No excuses these guys can’t coach up college players. And there is plenty of depth of talent. Can they pull it together in 6 months? No reason they can’t.
I think the new D-Line coach is going to be Shaun Nua. This guy hasn’t done enough to put him ahead of Nua who is an accomplished assistant
Shuan Nua is a great coach. He should be able to take over as the new D-Line coach.
My question is how much recruiting we lose in the transition from Henny to Jones. Is this guy a good recruiter?
He is a good recruiter and the players really like him. It sounds that perhaps that was one of the reasons to promote him, player retention.
077 — You’ll notice I said, “Many expect DE coach Shaun Nua to have a bigger role moving forward.” I’m not surprised at all that USC stayed inside to fill this position with an analyst. Lots of boats won’t be rocked, stability will be promoted and certain big name possibilities like Ed O were never going to be pursued in the first place. I agree with your thoughts about 44-yr old Shaun Nua, FootballScoop’s 2021 Defensive Line Coach of the Year when he was at MICH. Nua is also given credit for helping Trojan Tuli Tuipulotu become an elite, unanimous AA edge… Read more »
I’m good with Nua. He’s a top notch coach. I’m glad he decided not to leave.
Trojans Stay In-House for New DT Coach
USC has promoted defensive analyst Skyler Jones to DT coach, replacing coach Henny, now with the Washington Commanders. Jones, a New Orleans native, has already been on the Trojan support staff for two years.
He has previous experience with ORE as an analyst, the Rams under Henny, Norfolk State and Southern. Jones played ball on the DL at Bethany and is a 2014 grad.
Many expect DE coach Shaun Nua to have a bigger role moving forward.
Now they can hire Aaron Donald as DL analyst. Jones could be a very good addition, if Patterson is okay with him lets see what he can do.
I’m not putting the wagon in front of the horse until I see “production” results. Why is coach Jones an analyst and not coaching somewhere? Is this the new USC President saying no more spending on the football program? Is it Riley making a safe hire coach that won’t push him/ worry him? Or is this Coach really good and has escaped the attention of other programs seeking a D-line coach? I want to believe this 3rd option is not true. But we will see. GP & LR it’s up to you two to make this important position hire work!
SS at ON3 says USC has hired a DL coach, but the announcement is not coming immediately.
Skyler Jones, the new DL coach
USC is Wide Receiver U!
2027 three/four-star WR Eli Woodard (6-0, 180, Temecula Chaparral) just publicly committed to USC over MICH, MO and ORE.
“Chad Savage (TE/WR coach) has been recruiting him the hardest, and they’ve done a terrific job of staying on him and prioritizing him,” a well-placed source told 247Sports. “So with Chad as well as the GM (Chad Bowden) and coach Lincoln Riley, it all checked out. They see him playing early and making an impact in that offense.”
12 game JR stats: 51 catches/1,070 yds/17 TDs.
He certainly is productive
Call Coach O. Give me his phone number….I’ll call him
2026 NFL Mock Draft: After Super Bowl LX, how might first three rounds look?
Nick Baumgardner (The Athletic) —
Round 1
24. Cleveland Browns (from JAX): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
This could be too low for Lemon, whose combination of route nuance and ball skills remind me of fellow USC product Amon-Ra St. Brown. Lemon’s size (5-11, 195) is a bit of a concern, but he is this year’s version of 7-Eleven — he’s always open.
Round 3
94. Denver Broncos: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
nytimes.com
Puka Nacua, one of my favorite players, regrettably disses Sam Darnold following his Super Bowl win. What a dim bulb, classless troll move. Big negative backlash.
You only talk when you win……and he did not.
Anyone have info on Beong Soo Kim’s attitude is on USC sports? And specifically the football program that is receiving a huge among of support? If Riley’s fails to make the playoff or underwhelmes again this season, it will be Soo Kim’s decision on whether he stays or is fired. Sure hope Soo Kim is a Jen Cohend supporter.
Congrats to Sam & the Seahawks. Just wondering if PC will take compliments he left the program to where his successor would get the team to the Super Bowl?
Sam Darnold in the playoffs and Super Bowl: 700 yds passing, 5 TDs, no picks, 102 passer rating. Great arm, size, mobility, toughness, humility. Sam just wants to win, which is exactly what he does nowadays. What a Trojan!
Hat off! He did what he had to do to win……..we could use more of that near Vermont.
What a great day to be a Trojan. 4 former USC players win he Superbowl, including Sam Darnold, and Nwuoso, who gets a TD on defense. And our men’s basketball team, which may run out of available players gets another conference win on the road.
Speaking of Darnold and Nwosu, has anyone mentioned the 2017 Pac-12 CCG, played in the same stadium, in which Darnold was the star and Nwosu made the key defensive play by blowing up a 4th-and-goal run that would have put Stanford ahead in the fourth quarter?
Amazing recall on your part SC Gator. Some Trojan symmetry there for sure.
Easy to recall since there are no intervening SC championship games to clutter up my memory bank.
“Symmetry” was the word I was looking for, but couldn’t find, to describe the relationship between the two games. Thanks.
USC football has been in quite a long drought. Is that just a mirage we’re seeing out there in the future? Hopefully, it’s real water! ✌
I hope it’s real. I’m pretty thirsty.
Uchenna Nwuoso…..Narbonne high school down in the South Bay area.
That pick six was worth the wait even if the halftime show was sponsored by Telemundo.
Also I hope Lincoln gets the hint. Defense is essential.
I see that the Seahawks only had 200 passing yards. Can’t you just imagine Riley coaching a game with victory assured if he keeps the ball on the ground, but he starts throwing the ball anyway and turnovers allow the other team to comeback and win the game?
Don’t have to imagine it. I’ve seen it. More than once.
Like every important/bowl game where we manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?
The best way to to avoid this is to get an imposter to pose as the President of the United States calling with important information only he is cleared to take. He must retreat to the locker room for the fourth quarter while he waits for the president’s call.
Or maybe Will Smith can stop by and slap him silly!
I stopped watching the Super Bowl years ago ago due to hype. And the current NFL commissioner has turned the league into a political pandering platform.
Neverthess, I am so happy for the Trojans on the Seahawks who made it to the pinnacle of their profession.
I’m one who would love for LR to be watch this game or the last 50 years of CFB national champions to conclude that you need a top defense and a productive offense to win the ring. When you are dealing with someone with a niche background, a lopsided focus on the dynamic of the game, you’re not gonna change that programmed mindset.
Good old Nwosu……nice catch!
I love Sam……but……it’s the Seattle defense that is winning the game. Are you watching Riley.
I don’t think any college team can run a defense like the Seahawks have. They are running what Lynn runs, but these guys can execute it. Really well tonight.
Riley should be forced to rewatch this game 10 times. He has a rep for producing the worst defenses in college football, year after year.
If a Riley team has even a mediocre D, it’s viewed as a major accomplishment.
Darnold, who just threw a beautiful TD, has done well to totally outplay Maye. Both have been under a tremendous rush all game long, with Maye often on his back.
Hoping for a Patriot goose egg.
Watching the Pregame show, I gotta say, I may be old, but my music is way better than what they listen to today.
You know you’re getting there when you check in on the winners for the Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammies etc and say to yourself…..who are these people?
This doesn’t include the four Trojans on the Seahawks Super Bowl roster
Only one team on that list without a national championship in the modern era (since 1960).
So many SB players, so little college wins to show for it.
I had to think about your point, Gator, but then I came to my senses. Of course it the team w/o a natty since 1960 would have to be the perennially underachieving bruins.
USC beats PSU 77-75 in Happy Valley on Alijah Arenas’ fantastic drive to the basket, scoring with one second left in the game. The injury-riddled Trojans came back from 12 points down for their 18th win of the season.
If SC somehow makes it to the tournament, Muss should be National COY. The number of key injuries is staggering.
Muss is so refreshing. All the injuries don’t seem to slow him down for a second. I really like this guy and hope he’s at USC for quite awhile, though he moves around a lot.
that’s a great picture. look at the kids on the sidelines!
Sounds funny but there are a whole lot of people not rooting for the Seahawks, or the Patriots, but for Sam Darnold to win the super bowl. I just one of them.
Don’t forget the other 3 Trojans, Williams, Pili, and Nwosu. They are a big part of the defense that will win it with a little help from Darnold.
Velus Jones.
Drafted from Tennessee, transferred from SC, not a Trojan.
So that list above means players were drafted directly from the listed university. Ok then.