The story around Sam Darnold right now is familiar.

Redemption arc.
Proving the doubters wrong.
Finally shedding the “bust” label.

It’s a clean story. Satisfying, even.
A nice little Super Bowl storyline we can all feel good about.

But it skips a harder—and more honest—question:

What if Sam Darnold didn’t fail?
What if he was never set up to succeed in the first place?

“Revisionist history” usually gets framed as something dishonest—and often, it is.

But at its core, revisionist history simply means re-examining old conclusions with new information.

And when you do that with Darnold’s career, a pattern becomes hard to ignore.

He entered the league with the New York Jets—a franchise that has cycled through five head coaches and three general managers since he was drafted in 2018.

Then came the Carolina Panthers, who’ve had seven head coaches and three general managers over that same stretch.

Different systems.
Different teams.
Different leadership.
Same poor results.

Sam is the common denominator—so he must be the problem, right?

Later stops told a different story.

With the San Francisco 49ers, leadership didn’t change. Same coach. Same GM.

The Minnesota Vikings have had just two head coaches in 12 years and two general managers in 20.

The Seattle Seahawks have had two head coaches and one general manager in 16 years.

And suddenly:

That’s not a coincidence.

That’s what happens when a capable person is placed inside a stable system.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth we rarely say out loud:

Most people don’t fail because they “suck.”
They fail because the systems around them are chaotic, unclear, or broken.

That doesn’t remove responsibility—but it does change the story.

And it invites a more generous question, both for Darnold and for ourselves:

What if some of your past failures had less to do with your ability…
and more to do with the fact that you were never set up to win?

A lot of men carry quiet shame about past seasons:

Jobs that didn’t work out.
Relationships that ended.
Leadership roles that went sideways.
Habits that never seemed to stick.

But maybe the takeaway isn’t self-condemnation.

Maybe it’s clarity.

Maybe you don’t need to rewrite your past—
but you do need to revisit it with a kinder, more honest lens.

So here’s the real question—not about football, but about life:

Are your current systems and processes actually setting you up for success?

Not just at work—but with:

Because it’s hard to become who you’re capable of becoming
when the structure around you makes success unlikely.

Maybe Sam Darnold was never a bust.

And maybe you were never broken either.

Dinner gets tense. Bedtime gets pushed. Someone cries. Someone snaps.

And tomorrow you'll do it all over again.

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One newsletter I’ve been reading lately is Save Point Dad. It’s honest, thoughtful writing about fatherhood, fitness, and showing up—without pretending any of us have it all figured out. If you like reflections that feel real instead of polished, you can check it out here→ Subscribe.

Purpose is formed through commitment, not uncovered through endless searching.

Until next time—
🔥Keep the fires burning,
— Clay

P.S. I’d rather grow Campfire Gentleman through real connections than algorithms.
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Sam Darnold Thumbnail by Tennessee Titans

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