Chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” might still be a tad bit premature, but Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has indeed won the first month of the NFL season.
Vikings QB Sam Darnold is NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September
Darnold has led the Vikings to their first 4-0 start in eight years while pacing the NFL in touchdown passes (11) and passer rating (118.9).
The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 3, 2024 at 5:16PM
At least among NFC offensive players.
Leading the Vikings to their first 4-0 start in eight years while pacing the league in touchdown passes (11) and passer rating (118.9), Darnold won NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September.
It’s the first player of the month honor for the longtime embattled third overall pick of the 2018 draft. He’s also the 13th different Viking to win the award and the second under coach Kevin O’Connell, joining Justin Jefferson (November 2022).
The last time NFL MVP honors went to anyone but a quarterback was 2012 when Vikings running back Adrian Peterson won.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen won AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
The defensive players of the month were Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson in the NFC and Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy in the AFC. Special teams players of the month were Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey in the NFC and Steelers kicker Chris Boswell in the AFC.
Darnold’s 11 touchdown passes to start the season are three more than any other quarterback in the NFL (Baker Mayfield, eight), and tied Tommy Kramer (1986) and Kirk Cousins (2023) for the second-most touchdown passes through the first four games of a season in team history behind Daunte Culpepper, who had 13 in 2004.
In his first four games as a Viking, Darnold also became the first quarterback in franchise history to post a 100-plus passer rating in each of the team’s first four games of a season.
Darnold has led the Vikings to their first 4-0 start in eight years while pacing the NFL in touchdown passes (11) and passer rating (118.9).
