The Carolina Panthers kicked off the Sam Darnold era with a laugh.
Carolina acquired Darnold from New York on Monday for a 2021 sixth-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick, and a 2022 fourth-round pick. After the trade became official, the Panthers’ social media team welcomed Darnold with a hilarious meme that dates back to his second NFL season.
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 5, 2021
The tweet is a reference to when Darnold came down with mononucleosis after Week 1 in 2019. The Jets ruled Darnold out indefinitely until he got medically cleared by their team doctors, which led to this ESPN graphic, which was widely mocked and memed at the time.
Didn't get to watch last night's game so just now seeing how hilarious this graphic was pic.twitter.com/bIx3VsifbU
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) September 17, 2019
Darnold ended up only missing three games and finished out the regular season healthy.
Darnold’s tenure with the Jets didn’t go according to plan. He was drafted in 2018 with the hope of being the Jets’ franchise quarterback for the next decade. However, a combination of poor play and a bad supporting cast ultimately decided his fate.
The Panthers will get the next crack at Darnold with the hope of revitalizing his career. He will be reunited with his favorite receiver, Robby Anderson, and should receive better coaching from Matt Rhule and his staff.
