Site last updated: Thursday, May 7, 2026

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Jets' QB signs deal

Darnold finally ends holdout

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Sam Darnold is signed, sealed and back under center.

The New York Jets inked the rookie quarterback to a fully guaranteed four-year, $30.25 million deal Monday, ending the contract holdout of the NFL’s No. 3 overall draft pick.

Darnold missed the first three days of training camp practice while his representatives and the team worked out the details. There wouldn’t be a fourth straight absence.

“What’s up Jets fans?” Darnold said in a video posted by the team . “Man, it’s a pleasure to be signed now. I’m very excited. Very special moment. Let’s do it. Jet up!”

Just a few minutes after the Jets announced the signing — which includes a bonus of about $20 million — on social media, Darnold made his way out to the practice field with his teammates greeting him with a “Rudy”-like slow-clap .

“We were just messing around with him,” defensive end Leonard Williams said with a smile. “We gave him a little slow-clap and I think it was just more of a welcoming him back and also just a thing the guys do. We mess around with each other a lot.

“We were like, `Oh, he finally made it.”

Darnold spoke briefly to coach Todd Bowles as he joined the team.

“I told him he was late,” Bowles said, keeping a straight face.

A grinning Darnold made his way to the warmup line and got a pat on the shoulder from Josh McCown.

“Anybody that comes in late and holds out as a draft pick and makes a bunch of money is going to catch ribbing from the team,” Bowles said. “And this is only the start of it. But Sam has a good spirit and he’ll take it kindheartedly.”

Darnold then jumped right into position drills, handing off to running backs and throwing a few short passes before participating in team drills. After a shaky start that included a handoff, an incompletion and an intercepted pass by Doug Middleton, Darnold bounced back in red-zone drills with short touchdown tosses to fellow rookie Chris Herndon and later to wide receiver Quincy Enunwa.

The 21-year-old quarterback is expected to compete with McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the Jets’ starting job.

More in Professional

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS