In the midst of his career year, the resurgent Sam Darnold says he’s not thinking about the offseason when he could potentially benefit from a life-changing contract.

Darnold, speaking to ESPN ahead of Monday night’s big clash with the Bears, said he’s “not focused on it at all.” This is a big offseason contract after the best season of his professional career.

In 13 games, Darnold has thrown for 3,299 yards and 28 touchdowns, both career highs, while throwing 10 picks, none of which have come in the last four games. More importantly, the 27-year-old has the Vikings at 11-2 and the potential for the NFC North title and the best record in the conference still looming with four games to go.

“I’m really stuck in the moment. I think that’s the best way to approach it, just be where my feet are,” Darnold said.

Darnold is playing on a one-year, $10 million contract he signed with the team in March. Originally intended to be a bridge quarterback until rookie JJ McCarthy, the No. 10 pick in the draft, is ready to play.

The senior season follows a tumultuous start to his career after he was selected No. 3 overall by the Jets in 2018. Darnold posted a 13-25 record in New York and threw for 8,097 yards, 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions in three seasons before the Jets sent him to Carolina.

After two similarly poor seasons with the Panthers, Darnold headed west to become the replacement for 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in 2023.

“It’s special,” Darnold said of his revival. “To be honest, I really haven’t had a lot of time to think about it, think about my journey and where I am now because we’re really just taking it one game at a time. I’m really trying.” But it’s special to be on the team I’m on, in the locker room and the coaches who are able to come up with such great game plans for us every week, putting us in great positions, it is a special group to belong to.

Darnold credits his support system and “one day at a time” mantra with keeping him focused during the six-year struggle to begin his professional career.

“The biggest thing was just doing exactly what I’m doing now and just taking it one game at a time. One moment at a time, actually,” Darnold said. “Whether it’s practice on Wednesday, on Thursday it’s going to third, on Friday it’s going to the red zone. I just continue to have really good days. Obviously in my time in New York, my time in Carolina, these days, Sundays, sometimes that wasn’t the case. “Go our way, but that happens sometimes in the NFL. Being able to understand that really helped me move forward and I learned a lot about myself and how resilient I really am.”

Darnold’s resilience has been tested at times this season. In Week 10, against a two-win Jaguars team, Darnold threw three interceptions in what was by far the worst game of his Vikings tenure. Minnesota managed to get a 12-7 win and advance.

Darnold came on great, helping the Vikings to a 4-0 record over the next four games, throwing 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions, including a five-touchdown performance in Week 14 against the Falcons.

“I think it validated a lot of hard work, not just myself but our entire team, and we’ve been doing that since April, starting here at OTAs. “Just all the hard work we’ve put in over that time and it’s great to see that hard work come to fruition in a game like this,” Darnold said of the Falcons’ game. “This is just a game and for us. We’re always kind of worried about that one game and then after that we’re like, ‘Okay, what’s next?'”

What’s next: The Vikings host the Bears at US Bank Stadium on Monday Night Football. With a win, the Vikings could move level with the Lions, who lost a barnburner to the Bills on Sunday, at the top of the division and conference — and set the stage for a potentially crazy battle for the No. 1 overall seed between the Vikings , lions and eagles.