The writing was always on the wall, but now it is set in stone.

Jets head coach Todd Bowles officially named rookie QB Sam Darnold the Week 1 starter against the Lions on Monday Night Football.

After the Jets traded QB Teddy Bridgewater to the Saints, it was apparent the front office was confident in their No. 3 overall pick. Darnold has looked sharp all preseason, showcasing his smart decision-making, ability to scramble out of the pocket, accuracy, and more. Even though veteran Josh McCown is still in the quarterbacks room, the 21-year-old Darnold impressed everyone enough to believe he is ready to lead the offense.

Darnold noted last week that if he was named the starter for Week 1, he wouldn't be nervous at all.

"If I am going to be the starter Week 1, I feel really comfortable," Darnold said after Thursday's preseason finale in which he did not play. "I feel really comfortable with the offense. I feel really comfortable with the guys inside this locker room. I'm just really excited for whatever opportunity comes my way. But if not, I'm going to be the best backup I can be."

Darnold went 29-for-45 for 244 yards, two touchdowns and one interception over three preseason games. Now officially named the starter, he will be the youngest quarterback to start Week 1 since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

If there wasn't a tremendous amount of pressure on Darnold to begin with, there certainly is now. But composure has always been a staple for Darnold, and he won't let that change now.

"Throughout my life, whether it's Pop Warner, life in general, in high school, college and now in the NFL," Darnold said, "I'm going to continue to be the same person ... continue to be the person that my parents raised me to be. And nothing's going to change that ... even if the stakes are a little bit higher being in the NFL and being able to play this awesome game for a living. It doesn't change my outlook on life or how I'm going to be as a person."

The Sam Darnold Era officially starts now.

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