'Time to put my money where my mouth is': Why one bettor wagered $250 on Sam Darnold to win NFL MVP
An interview with the 35-year-old lawyer who placed the wager
There are always a few eyebrow-raising NFL futures bets that come across the timeline every offseason, and one such bet was made public this last week.
One bettor at FanDuel wagered $250 on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold to win the 2024-25 NFL MVP at 300-1 odds on June 26. The same bettor also wagered $250 on Darnold at 400-1 odds to win the AP NFL regular season Offensive Player of the Year Award on the same day. And no, the bettor isn’t related to Darnold in any way.
While Darnold is currently set to be the Vikings’ Week 1 starter, it’s widely expected that first-round pick J.J. McCarthy will take over at some point this season. The names of some other players with similar MVP odds at FanDuel: Nick Bosa, Tony Pollard, Aidan Hutchinson, George Kittle, A.J. Brown, Derrick Henry and Drake Maye … to name a few.
So why the faith in Darnold for this bettor?
I was fortunate enough to be able to ask the bettor himself, Jesse Hynes, about his reasoning for making the wagers on Darnold. Hynes, a 35-year-old lawyer living in New Jersey, was kind enough to answer my questions over email.
How long have you been betting?
I’m sure this may or may not come as a surprise, but I actually don’t really bet often. I have done some casual betting here and there, but really nothing significant. When I do bet, it is generally football related. I often like to play the long shots, knowing that the likelihood of them hitting can be near zero. For example, I have bet the Jets winning the Super Bowl a few times, and we all know how that has worked out. I never bet more than I’m willing to lose.
What is your reasoning behind the two Darnold wagers?
Sam Darnold is a QB [whom] I have always believed got a raw deal. Being drafted by the Jets is no picnic, and I always felt he was never really set up for success. You could always see the pure talent that he has. I have honestly probably been one of his biggest supporters over the last few years and have been following his career since he was drafted waiting for him to get an opportunity with a team that had more than Robbie/Chosen Anderson as [its] best WR. While I have certainly been made fun of for this, I still have Darnold on my two-team QB Dynasty Football team in a league with my friends.