Sam Darnold becomes 10th rookie QB to win NFL debut in past 10 years

San Clemente standout follows fellow USC star Mark Sanchez to win first game as a New York Jet.

Memory Lane: Sam Darnold 57,196 views 3:49

Video: Memory Lane - Sam Darnold

Looking back at Jets quarterback with San Clemente High School head coach Jaime Ortiz.

It was an in auspicious start for New York Jets rookie Sam Darnold. The former USC and San Clemente (Calif.) star threw a pick-six to Quandre Diggs of the Detroit Lions on his first NFL pass on Monday.

But Darnold regrouped and led the J-E-T-S to the 48-17 win over the Lions. In doing so, he became the 10th rookie quarterback in his first start since 2008 to notch a victory.

Here are how rookie signal callers fared in their NFL debuts over the past 10 years.

Sam Darnold, seen playing prep ball at San Clemente, because the 10th rookie QB to win his NFL debut since 2008.

File photo by Rich Lawce

2018

Sam Darnold | San Clemente (Calif.) | USC | N.Y. Jets
Win – 48-17 vs. Lions; 16 of 21, 198 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

2017

Deshone Kizer | Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio) | Notre Dame | Cleveland Browns

Loss – 21-18 vs. Steelers; 20 of 30, 222 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 5 rush, 17 yards, 1 TD

Deshaun Watson | Gainesville (Ga.) | Clemson| Houston Texans

Loss – 29-7 vs. Jaguars; 12 of 23, 102 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 2 rush, 16 yards

2016
Carson Wentz | Century (Bismarck, N.D.) | North Dakota State| Philadelphia Eagles

Win 29-10 vs. Browns; 22 of 37, 278 yards, 2 TDs

Dak Prescott | Haughton (La.) | Mississippi State | Dallas Cowboys

Loss – 20-19 vs. Giants; 25 of 45, 227 yards; 2 rush, 12 yards

2015
Marcus Mariota | St. Louis (Honolulu) | Hawaii | Tennessee Titans

Win – 42-14 vs. Buccaneers; 13 of 15, 209 yards, 4 TDs; 2 rush, 6 yards

Jameis Winston | Hueytown (Ala.) | Florida State | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Loss – 42-14 vs. Titans; 16 of 33, 210 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

2014
Derek Carr | Bakersfield Christian (Bakersfield, Calif.) | Fresno State | Oakland Raiders

Loss – 19-14 vs. Jets; 20 of 32, 151 yards, 2 TDs

2013
Geno Smith | Miramar (Fla.) | West Virginia | N.Y. Jets

Win – 18-17 vs. Buccaneers; 24 of 38, 256 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 6 rush, 47 yards

E.J. Manuel | Bayside (Virginia Beach, Va.) | Florida State | Buffalo Bills

Win 23-21 vs. Patriots; 18 of 27, 150 yards, 2 TDs

2012
Andrew Luck | Stratford (Houston) | Stanford | Indianapolis Colts

Loss – 41-21 vs. Bears; 23 of 45, 309 yards, 1 TD

Robert Griffin III | Copperas Cove (Texas) | Baylor | Washington Redskins

Win – 40-32 vs. Saints; 19 of 26, 320 yards, 2 TDs, 9 rush, 42 yards

Ryan Tannehill | Big Spring (Texas) | Texas A&M | Miami Dolphins

Loss – 30-10 vs. Texans; 20 of 36, 291 yards, 3 INT

Brandon Weeden | Edmond Santa Fe (Edmond, Okla.) | Oklahoma State | Cleveland Browns

Loss – 17-16 vs. Eagles; 12 of 35, 118 yards, 4 INTs

Russell Wilson | Collegiate (Richmond, Va.) | Wisconsin | Seattle Seahawks

Loss – 2016 vs. Cardinals; 18 of 24, 153 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 8 rush, 20 yards

2011
Cam Newton | Westlake (Atlanta) | Auburn | Carolina Panthers

Loss – 28-21 vs. Cardinals; 24 of 37, 422 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 8 rush, 18 yards, 1 TD

Andy Dalton | Katy (Texas) | TCU | Cincinnati Bengals

Win – 27-17 vs. Browns; 10 of 15, 81 yards, 1 TD

2010
Sam Bradford | Putnam City North (Oklahoma City) | Oklahoma | St. Louis Rams

Loss – 17-13 vs. Cardinals; 32 of 55, 253 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT

2009
Matthew Stafford | Highland Park (Dallas) | Georgia | Detroit Lions

Loss – 45-27 vs. Saints; 16 of 37, 205 yards, 3 INT; 2 rush, O yards, 1 TD

Mark Sanchez | Mission Viejo (Calif.) | USC | NY Jets

Win – 24-7 vs. Texans; 18 of 31, 272 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

2008
Joe Flacco | Audubon (N.J.) | Delaware | Baltimore Ravens
Win – 17-10 vs. Bengals; 15 of 29, 129 yards; 4 rush, 37 yards, 1 TD