One of the biggest questions commentators have about the New York Jets is, who will be able to develop quarterback Sam Darnold?
According to football great Peyton Manning, though, first-year head coach Adam Gase is the perfect person to develop Darnold in a way that prior coaches haven't been able to. Manning also feels as though Gase can develop the rest of the team in a similar way.
Article Continues Below“I think it’s a good fit for Sam (Darnold). Adam was wonderful to me after my injury. I had to learn to play football in a sort of different physical state because I couldn’t throw the ball the same way.”
Manning would know a thing or two about Gase's coaching style because he served under Gase (back when Gase was just the quarterbacks coach). Even though he was recovering from neck surgery at the time, Gase was able to coach Manning into 55 touchdowns and 5,477 yards — both NFL records — beating his personal bests by six touchdowns and a whopping 777 yards.
And Manning feels that Sam Darnold has the potential to be just as great under Gase's tutelage — and he hasn't been coached properly until now, which is why he hasn't reached his full potential.
“I’m pulling for him to have great success there. Now that I’m not playing, (I enjoy) not only keeping up with Eli but coaches who I played for and players that I played with. I’m pulling hard for Adam. I like Sam Darnold as well and I think he has a bright future ahead of him.”