“Obviously I haven’t played well enough the last few weeks”

The problem was that the big plays from Darnold disappeared in each of the last two weeks.

Through the first 17 weeks of Darnold’s revitalization, he threw 35 touchdowns. Over the last two, he threw one.

Similarly, Darnold tallied a 106.4 passer rating from Weeks 1-17, and in the last two compiled a 66.4 rating.

O’Connell, who emerged as the QB whisperer as he lured the very best of the 2018 NFL Draft’s No. 3 pick, remained supportive of Darnold’s continued maturation.

“Remember this guy is 27 years old or whatever he is,” O’Connell said. “I think he has a foundation now of both the things you do at the quarterback position to be successful and things you have to learn the hard way sometimes. You talk to some of the best players to play the game at the position. They all had learning moments throughout their journey. I think Sam will take a lot of positives out of this year.”

But will O’Connell and Darnold aim for that consistency together in 2025?

After the dilemma of how the Vikings’ excellent campaign came to a disastrous end so quickly, the most pressing question for the club is in the QB room.

Darnold was headed for a big payday in the offseason whether the Vikings re-signed him, used the franchise tag or hit the open market. Now, Darnold’s stock has plummeted over the course of two games.

“I’m not worried about it,” Darnold said of how the last two weeks will affect his future. “That’s in the past. Right now I’m just thinking about, like I said, what I could have done better today and just spending time with the guys in the locker room. That’s really all I’m focused on right now. At the end of the day in the NFL you only get one season with a team. Today it wasn’t that simple for me time I can with those guys in the locker room and then I want to think about what the future holds after that.”

Minnesota’s season ended Monday with three first-round quarterbacks on its roster: Darnold (taken by the New York Jets in 2018); Daniel Jones (taken by the New York Giants in 2019) and JJ McCarthy (taken by the Vikings in 2024).

Jones was the third emergency QB Monday.

McCarthy is still recovering from knee surgery that ended his rookie season before it ever began.

Darnold, who struggled in his days with the Jets and then with the Carolina Panthers, showed enough promise as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers to be signed by the Vikings this past offseason as a potential bridge to McCarthy.

At this point, it’s fair to say the Vikings have no set plan for their 2025 season Week 1 starting QB. As uncertain as Darnold’s future is, it appears that so are the Vikings at the most important position in the game.

“I would also say that I think it’s very important that we think about Sam’s work,” O’Connell said. “What he was able to do this year, when not many thought he would be able to lead a team to 14 wins. Very rare for a quarterback in their first year. In fact, it’s rare, most wins with a first – quarterback of the year with a team.”

What he has done in the last two losses could very well have tarnished a 14 win streak.

The offseason — which, unfortunately for Minnesota, began Monday night — will answer that.