No Chip on His Shoulder

Sam Darnold was the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, as the New York Jets selected him to be their franchise-saving quarterback. However, things didn’t work out, and the team moved on and shipped him out of town.

From there, he spent time in Carolina, where he had mixed results before the Panthers gave up on him. At that point, it appeared he would settle in as a backup quarterback in the league, as he headed to San Francisco to play behind Brock Purdy.

After a rough start to his career, fans and the media doubted him, called him a draft bust, and even made fun of him. But he didn’t give up and kept moving forward, which led the Minnesota Vikings to give him another chance.

He took advantage of the opportunity, became the starter, and led the team to a 14-3 record in 2024. Yet, playing poorly in their playoff game, the Vikings decided not to re-sign him. 

So, he signed with the Seahawks instead, his 5th team in his 8-year career, and now he’ll be under center as they take on the Patriots in Super Bowl LX!

It’s an inspiring story in many ways, and we would think that because teams and fans and the media wrote him off, he would carry a chip on his shoulder, right? We are certain he’s felt rejected and discouraged, and that many aspects of his career have been humiliating, disappointing, and frustrating.

We would think he’s been using all of that as motivation, setting out to prove the teams that gave up on him wrong and to play with a little extra anger and determination, right? 

In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Darnold debunked that theory, saying,

“You know, Dan, I’m being honest with you, I don’t ever feel like I had a chip on my shoulder. I just don’t think that’s really my personality. I’ve never been like that, you know, at any point in my life.

“I’ve always just worked hard and treated every single day as its own day. Because I feel like, just with me personally, if I got too high or too low, that affected performance. So, I feel like I was always just better if I stayed right here, just even-keeled.”

You can’t help but respect that perspective. However, it’s hard to believe Darnold doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder, as it would be justified. Let’s face it, this is usually a celebrated mindset and attitude.

We admire a player for having a “chip on his shoulder” because he goes out to show what he’s capable of and why he shouldn’t have been given up on. We think the “chip on his shoulder” helps him play better.

Meriam-Webster defines having a chip on one’s shoulder as having “an angry or unpleasant attitude or way of behaving caused by a belief that one has been treated unfairly in the past.”

That doesn’t sound very positive, does it? Is this really the best approach for a player to have, and should it be encouraged? 

Sure, guys wanting to prove others wrong might make sense in sports, but in the long run, is allowing bitterness and frustration to be the driving force behind motivation really what’s best? 

What about in our own lives? Is it beneficial for us to hold grudges and live with a “chip on our shoulder”? Are we hanging onto past hurts, disappointments, and rejections as some badge of honor?

Do we feel like we’ve been treated unfairly in the past and given up on, so we have the right to carry around an angry or unpleasant attitude?  

Even if the “chip on our shoulder” or “I’ll show them” attitude has helped to motivate us in some way and has allowed us to turn something negative into something positive, ultimately, at its root is anger, arrogance, bitterness, and pride, so is it the best approach to continue dwelling on the pain of the past? 

Instead, as followers of Jesus, we are motivated by love, grace, and hope. We know that in Christ there is freedom and healing from our past, joy in the present, and hope for our future. We can be much more effective and impactful for Kingdom purposes with that kind of perspective.

We don’t need to dwell on our past with a “chip on our shoulder,” but instead ask God to renew our mind and transform our heart as we willingly move forward and forgive.  

Ephesians 4:31-32 (AMP) tells us to ”Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].

“Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.”

Proverbs 24:29 (NLT) gives us this encouragement: “And don’t say, 'Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!'”

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (AMP) says, “Do not be eager in your heart to be angry,

For anger dwells in the heart of fools.”

Sure, Darnold has had disappointments, failures, and unmet expectations throughout his career that could have led him to either embrace or stir up anger, and many of us can relate.

But today, instead of being fueled by anger, being focused on proving others wrong or setting out for revenge with resentment in our hearts and a "chip on our shoulder," let's choose to be motivated by love, working hard for God’s glory as we experience freedom and forgiveness because of Christ within us. 

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please show me the things that have been acting as a chip on my shoulder that I need to let go of. I don’t want to be bitter, resentful, and angry, or pursue revenge. I know You will heal me from my pain and turn things around for good. Please help me to forgive and experience freedom in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.