Sam Darnold is headed to the Super Bowl - and he’s doing it in style.
The Seahawks quarterback delivered one of the best performances of his career in the NFC Championship Game, torching the Rams for 346 yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-36 passing. He didn’t turn the ball over, stayed poised under pressure, and posted a 131.0 passer rating that told the story: Darnold was locked in from start to finish.
It’s the kind of outing that would’ve been hard to imagine just a year ago. Back then, Darnold was a free agent coming off a solid but not spectacular season in Minnesota.
There was interest, sure - especially from teams in need of a quarterback reset. One of those teams was the Las Vegas Raiders, fresh off a regime change and looking to find their next leader under center.
But the Raiders passed.
Instead of signing Darnold, they made a move that would end up altering the quarterback landscape - and, indirectly, launching Darnold’s improbable run to the Super Bowl.
Brady’s Call, Darnold’s Opportunity
This past offseason marked Tom Brady’s first as a minority owner of the Raiders, a role that reportedly came with real influence over football decisions. With Las Vegas in search of both a new head coach and a new quarterback, Brady’s fingerprints were all over the team’s direction.
First came the hire of Pete Carroll, bringing the longtime Seahawks coach out of retirement and into the desert. Then came the quarterback decision - and that’s where things got interesting.
According to reports, Brady initially targeted Matthew Stafford, hoping to bring the Rams veteran to Las Vegas. But Stafford stayed put in L.A., and with the Raiders still needing a QB, Darnold appeared to be the next logical option.
Instead, Brady wasn’t sold.
Despite Darnold’s strong finish in Minnesota, the Raiders opted not to pursue him. That decision opened the door for Seattle, who had just moved on from Geno Smith - trading him to Las Vegas, where he would reunite with Carroll.
Seattle swooped in and signed Darnold to a three-year deal, giving him the keys to an offense that was ready to compete.
Fast forward to now, and that move looks like a franchise-changer.
Darnold’s Statement Game
Against a tough Rams defense, Darnold didn’t just manage the game - he took it over. He averaged 9.6 yards per attempt, stayed aggressive downfield, and made all the right reads.
He was sacked three times, but never rattled. He even added a few key yards on the ground, showing just enough mobility to keep the defense honest.
Most importantly, he protected the football. No turnovers, no forced throws. Just clean, efficient quarterback play when it mattered most.
For a player whose early career was defined by inconsistency and turnover issues, this version of Darnold looks like someone who’s finally put it all together.
Raiders’ Gamble Comes Up Empty
While Darnold was lighting it up in the NFC title game, the Raiders were already deep into their offseason planning after a brutal 3-14 campaign - tied for the worst record in the league.
Geno Smith, the quarterback Las Vegas acquired instead of signing Darnold, struggled throughout the year. The reunion with Carroll didn’t spark the offense the way the Raiders had hoped, and the team never found its footing.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that had a chance to sign Darnold and passed. Hindsight is always 20/20, but the contrast couldn’t be starker: one quarterback headed to the Super Bowl, the other part of a team hitting the reset button again.
Brady’s Role in the Raiders’ Future
Tom Brady officially became a minority owner of the Raiders in October 2024, holding a 5% stake in the franchise. But his role goes beyond just ownership. Since joining the group, Brady has reportedly had significant input on football operations - including roster decisions and coaching hires.
That influence was felt throughout the 2025 offseason, and it played a major role in the decisions that shaped the Raiders’ season - and, indirectly, the Seahawks’ as well.
A New Chapter for Darnold
For Darnold, this Super Bowl run is more than just a career milestone - it’s a redemption story.
Once written off as a draft bust, he’s now leading one of the league’s most exciting teams on the biggest stage in football. And while the road here wasn’t straightforward, it’s clear that Darnold has found the right fit in Seattle - a system that trusts him, a coaching staff that believes in him, and a roster that’s built to win.
He may not have been the Raiders’ choice, but he’s proven to be exactly what the Seahawks needed.
And now, with one more game to go, Sam Darnold has a chance to complete one of the most unexpected - and impressive - turnarounds in recent NFL memory.