Patient Darnold finds happy QB home

When Sam Darnold was asked Thursday about the promising end to his 2022 season, the embattled quarterback said he accomplished more because he learned to do less.

Darnold, 25, a No. 3 overall draft pick known for his penchant for throwing picks in the NFL, began his six-start stretch with the Panthers by not throwing an interception in his first 18-plus quarters and 105 attempts.

“I think for me it was just playing within myself,” Darnold said. “I think that was the biggest thing in those last six games. … It was just playing patient. I think that was the biggest difference for me was not forcing things when they weren’t there.”

The San Francisco 49ers’ just-signed QB is aware that his newfound approach could serve him well in his latest employment opportunity: If he stays patient, very good things could happen.

After five NFL seasons filled with losing, firings and 55 interceptions in 56 games, including 55 starts, Darnold agreed to a one-year deal with the 49ers, who have a support system and QB situation that could resuscitate his career.

The 49ers’ other two QBs, Brock Purdy and Trey Lance, are rehabbing after undergoing elbow surgery and ankle surgery, respectively. Also, Purdy’s recovery timeline makes it unclear if he’ll be ready to start the regular season. And Lance’s skimpy NFL resume doesn’t make him a slam dunk to start if Purdy isn’t available.

Thus, it’s not hard to see how Darnold could see a pathway to playing time — in Week 1 or later in the season — on a team that has been to three NFC Championship Games in the past four seasons.

Darnold indirectly referenced his previous two NFL employers, the Jets and Panthers, when explaining why the 49ers were so appealing.

“I think being able to find myself in a good organization,” Darnold said. “From top to bottom, being in a really good organization was a priority for me. Being with really good coaches and really good personnel, as well. So those were kind of the top things for me. Very happy to be here.”

Darnold’s one-year contract includes $3.5 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of $11.5 million due to $7 million he can earn in incentives.

Even given the 49ers’ QB injury woes last season, that’s an unusually large investment in a third-string QB. And that suggests Darnold will have an opportunity to compete with Lance for the No. 2 role.

On that topic, Darnold, who played at USC and spent three seasons with the New York media, showed his time in the spotlight had taught him how to deftly deflect questions.

“I think for me it’s coming in here and really doing everything that I can to understand the offense,” Darnold said. “I know I have my work cut out for me when it comes to that. I think that’s just my focus right now is doing whatever I can to help this team win games when it comes time to do that. Whether that’s me being the backup or starting. That’s my mind-set.”

Darnold hopes to prove the bust label has been unfairly attached to him despite substandard career numbers that include a 59.7% completion percentage and 78.2 passer rating. His evidence: his circumstances.

His teams have had a 25-57 record and Darnold has played for three position coaches, four head coaches and five offensive coordinators. None of Darnold’s quarterbacks coaches played in the NFL. Sean Ryan, his coach the past two seasons with the Panthers, was a safety and linebacker at Division III Hamilton College.

Given that background, it was notable that Darnold, without prompting, mentioned a conversation he had with 49ers QBs coach Brian Griese before he agreed to terms Monday. Griese made 83 starts in his 11-season NFL career.

“Just to be able to understand his thoughts on quarterback play,” Darnold said. “Just the way that you saw Trey, Jimmy (Garoppolo) and … Brock play. They played with a lot of confidence and they played fast. That’s something I was very interested in, for sure. Being able to talk with Brian about that was very eye-opening.”

Last year, which was Griese’s first as an NFL coach, Garoppolo had a career-best passer rating (103.0). Purdy, a rookie seventh-round pick, became the only QB to win his first five starts while throwing two touchdown passes in each game since 1950. And the 49ers QBs combined to throw for 4,049 yards with 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Darnold said he’s eager to “grow as a player” on an offense that ranked fifth in the NFL last season. He repeatedly said that will require hard work. But it could help that he’s now part of a group that includes All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk and four players who have had 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

“I don’t know if I can say ‘excited’ enough during this press conference,” Darnold said. “Excited to get to work.”