SAN JOSE, Calif. — Mystery Player A started all 18 games last season for the Minnesota Vikings. A former first-round draft pick, he touched the football on every offensive play. After Minnesota’s 14-3 season ended ugly, with a divisional-round playoff drubbing by the Los Angeles Rams, he was unceremoniously dumped for a supposed upgrade. Now, after starting every game (again), he’s at the Super Bowl.

Mystery Player A is not Sam Darnold.

It’s Garrett Bradbury.

After spending six seasons as Minnesota’s starting center, Bradbury was released in March before signing a two-year deal with the New England Patriots. The Vikings sank resources into rebuilding their lacking offensive line — signing a pair of prized free agents in center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries, then drafting Ohio State left guard Donovan Jackson with the 24th overall pick. They also discarded Darnold in favor of prized pupil J.J. McCarthy.

We know how well that worked.

Last week, while Darnold and Bradbury began preparing for the Super Bowl, Minnesota fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. After a 9-8 season that included a 4-8 start, the Vikings’ war ship has holes in its hull. Their rebuilt offensive line fizzled even further, surrendering 60 sacks (tied for second-most in the NFL). In 10 starts under coach and quarterback guru Kevin O’Connell, McCarthy egregiously underachieved, with 57.6% completions (39th among qualified QBs) and more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11).

No matter.

As Frank Sinatra supposedly said: “The best revenge is massive success.”

See: Super Bowl LX.

“In Minnesota, I felt like I had a great opportunity with really good teammates and really good coaches to show … not people, but show myself what I could do on the football field. I think people saw that,” Darnold said Monday, sitting on a riser before a massive crowd at the San Jose Convention Center.

“In Seattle, just from the get, right when I got here it felt like home. It feels like home. I’m thankful for [general manager John Schneider] and [coach Mike Macdonald] believing in me, and all the players in that locker room believing in me, just to go out there and do nothing more than my job every single play. That’s a very secure feeling as a quarterback.”

Darnold’s believers extend beyond his locker room. In Minnesota, Bradbury saw him glue together the remains of a tattered reputation, establishing himself as a viable starter. After spending six seasons with the Jets, Panthers and 49ers, Darnold threw for 4,319 yards (66.2% completions) with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2024. The former No. 3 overall pick’s arm talent remained remarkable.

But his ability to lead a locker room was also evident.

“From a football standpoint, he’s a baller. He’s an unbelievable player,” Bradbury said Monday. “We saw that when OTAs started [in 2024]. He can spin it with the best of them. But just as a guy, I think every team he’s been with, all the guys who know him, love him. He’s just a guy you gravitate towards. He can relate with everyone in the locker room. He’s an awesome human.”

On the subject of Darnold’s Seattle success, Bradbury added: “It’s awesome to see, but it’s not surprising. I think the talent, who he is, has always been there. It was awesome for him to get a chance in Minnesota, with a good roster, to see what he could do. We had a great time last year. It didn’t end the way we wanted it to. But I’m happy for all of the success he has.”

Yes, the best revenge is massive success.

Especially when it comes at Minnesota’s expense.

After Seattle blanked the Vikings, 26-0, on Nov. 30, Bradbury sent Darnold a congratulatory text. The two remain close, taking offseason golf trips together, and Bradbury even said: “We’re going to try to meet up this week, but we’ll both be pretty busy.”

The Seahawks quarterback and Patriots center, exchanging pleasantries? Meeting for coffee and conversation before occupying opposite sidelines?

That might be a strange sight. But rest assured, Darnold and Bradbury’s sights are set on Sunday. The 28-year-old Darnold has entrenched himself in Seattle, completing 69.8% of his passes and throwing for 470 yards with four touchdowns and zero turnovers in playoff wins over the NFC West rival Rams and 49ers.

Bradbury has found another franchise quarterback.

In New England, Drake Maye exploded in his second season, amassing 4,394 passing yards on a league-leading 72% completions, with 35 total touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

Like Darnold, he was once the No. 3 overall pick.

But that’s not where the similarities stop.

“You see some throws in April. You see some throws in August. Then you get to games and you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ He can beat you a lot of different ways,” Bradbury said of Maye. “He’ll never tell you he’s arrived, but I guarantee he’s pretty special.

“They’re both great friends of mine, so they’re both great dudes to be around. They can both certainly spin it. They’re both really talented. They have a lot of similarities.”

For Darnold and Bradbury, Sunday’s reunion is not about revenge. It’s about the destination, and the paths they took after they parted. The losses led them here.

“If you asked us in February last year, we would have both wanted to be back there [in Minnesota]. God had different plans, and they worked out pretty well,” Bradbury said. “So we’re both really happy with where we’re at. I know he’s loving it there. I’m certainly loving it with these guys. So it’s crazy how it worked out.”

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