Not many rookie quarterbacks would’ve been able to handle an early season slump the way Sam Darnold did the past three weeks.

The Jets weren’t just losing games; they were being outplayed in every facet. Things were not looking good for Darnold under center, as he had little time to go through his reads due to poor offensive line play. He was essentially running for his life at the snap of the ball.

During New York’s losing streak, Darnold had every chance to fold. He could’ve thrown his offensive line under the bus and deflected blame onto a struggling defense. Instead, in typical Darnold fashion, he remained cool, calm and collected while he weathered the storm.

“His demeanor stayed the same even with the lows that we had a couple weeks ago,” veteran left tackle Kelvin Beachum told reporters on Monday after New York’s 34-16 win over the Denver Broncos. “Even with the win yesterday, he’s stayed the same. As a leader and as a starting quarterback on this team to have that type of demeanor — especially in the market like this — is impressive for his age. I really applaud him.”

There’s no doubt Darnold has the mental makeup to succeed playing in the Big Apple. It’s rare that a rookie proves that so early in his career, but Darnold has in a month’s time.

Consistency on the field is important for any quarterback, but remaining level-headed off of it is just as important. Darnold never gets too down when the team is losing or too high when the Jets are winning — an important trait for a player who plays a position that banks on composure and confidence.

“We know that when we rattle off a couple here in a row, he’s going to be the same guy,” Beachum added. “What you see is what you get. I appreciate that about him coming in and out of the huddle. Win, lose or draw, he’s the same guy.”

Todd Bowles said much of the same about his easy-going quarterback.

“He’s been very positive,” the head coach said. “He understands that he’s close and we’re close as a team… That’s what you like about him. He keeps working. He doesn’t look at the good and the bad. He looks at the progress and knowing everybody’s close and making sure everybody’s on the same page. It really wasn’t hard to keep him level-headed. He already has been.”

As the weeks go on, Darnold is endearing himself to his teammates both on and off the field. He has control of the huddle and his teammates trust him simply because they know what to expect from him on a weekly basis. His personality plays to the mood of the locker room.

Moving forward, his persona will help him take the next step in claiming this team as his own.

“I feel like the guys on the team are starting to get a feel for me and my kind of leadership,” Darnold said. “It’s really cool to be able to just be me… When I do talk and say something in the huddle, guys can kind of look at me, and feel, ‘Ok, here we go.’ I mean business, but at the same time, I’m just a normal dude who wants to get a win just like everybody else.”