Sam Darnold Cleared to Start NFC Championship Game vs. Rams, Ready to Lead Seahawks
The Seahawks are getting exactly the news they were hoping for ahead of Sunday’s NFC Championship clash with the Los Angeles Rams: Sam Darnold is good to go.
Seattle’s starting quarterback had been dealing with an oblique injury that limited him in practice throughout the week, but on Friday, Darnold confirmed what fans were waiting to hear-he’s feeling ready. “I feel like the process is going right along where it should be,” he said. “So I feel really good for Sunday.”
That’s a major boost for a Seahawks team now just one win away from its first Super Bowl appearance in over a decade. Darnold’s health had been a lingering question mark following the injury he suffered to his left side just two days before Seattle’s Divisional Round matchup against the 49ers.
But after a strong start in that game-completing 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown-he handed things off to Drew Lock with the outcome well in hand. Seattle cruised to a 41-6 win, and Darnold notched his first postseason victory as an NFL starter.
Now, with the stakes even higher, the Seahawks are putting their trust in the quarterback they made a major commitment to last offseason. Seattle signed Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million deal after acquiring him from the Minnesota Vikings, betting big on the former USC standout to be their long-term answer under center. So far, that bet is paying off.
Darnold has delivered one of the best seasons of his career, throwing for over 4,000 yards for just the second time and posting a career-high 67.7% completion rate. He’s also led the Seahawks to a 14-3 record for the second straight year-consistency that’s been key in Seattle’s return to the NFC elite.
Inside the locker room, there’s no shortage of belief in Darnold. Guard Grey Zabel didn’t hold back when asked about his quarterback on Friday.
“He’s a killer,” Zabel said. “I love him to death.
Like, I would go to war for Sam Darnold. He’s the best.”
That kind of endorsement isn’t just lip service-it reflects the confidence this team has in its leader, even as he continues to battle through injury. While some outside voices have questioned whether Seattle’s defense is doing the heavy lifting, Darnold’s numbers and leadership speak for themselves. He’s been at the center of this playoff run, guiding the Seahawks back to the postseason for the first time since 2022 and now into their first NFC Championship Game since 2014.
That 2014 game? A comeback classic against the Packers in overtime.
And history is on Seattle’s side again-since joining the NFC, the Seahawks are a perfect 3-0 in conference title games. Their only loss in a league championship came back in 1983, when they were still part of the AFC and fell to the Raiders.
This time, it’s the Rams standing in their way. And with Darnold cleared and confident, the Seahawks are locked in for another shot at the Super Bowl.