Sam Darnold will be starting in the Super Bowl before Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and the rest of the NFL's class of 2018 quarterbacks.

Earlier this season, a new theory started gaining traction – every time a new pope is elected, the Seahawks go to the Super Bowl. In recent years, that pattern seems to hold. In 2005, with the election of Pope Benedict XVI, the Seahawks made it to Super Bowl XL and lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

If you traveled back to 2019 and told a bar full of NFL fans that Sam Darnold would be the first quarterback from the loaded 2018 draft class to start a Super Bowl, you would’ve been laughed out of the room.

It's been awesome. I mean, just beyond my wildest dreams in a lot of ways,” Ben Conklin, who's been compared to Sam Darnold, said.

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold balls out in front of Tom Brady after Raiders owner opted against signing free agent originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Sam Darnold's improbable run to the Super Bowl helped silence many doubters who didn't think he could perform in the biggest spots.

Adam Schefter talks about the future of Rams QB Matthew Stafford after losing in the NFC championship.