Sam Darnold is heading to the Super Bowl - and just about nobody saw this coming.
The Seahawks punched their ticket to Super Bowl LX with a thrilling 31-27 win over the Rams in the NFC Championship Game, and Darnold was at the heart of it all. Three touchdowns, no picks, and a command of the offense that looked worlds away from the version of Darnold we saw early in his career. This wasn’t just a win - it was a full-circle moment for a quarterback who’s been counted out more times than we can remember.
Back in March 2025, Seattle made the controversial decision to move on from Geno Smith and hand the reins to Darnold. The move raised more than a few eyebrows - and drew plenty of criticism, including from ESPN analyst Mina Kimes. At the time, she called the trade “terrible” and doubted the Seahawks could truly upgrade at the position.
Fast forward ten months, and it’s clear Seattle saw something most didn’t. Darnold didn’t just stabilize the offense - he elevated it.
The Seahawks went 14-3, locked down the NFC’s top seed, and now they’re Super Bowl-bound. That’s not a fluke.
That’s a quarterback playing the best football of his life on the biggest stage.
To her credit, Kimes didn’t shy away from her earlier take. When a fan resurfaced her March comments, she owned it: “I did, and have said I was wrong a bunch!”
she replied. “Part of the job is trying to understand why you’re wrong so you can get better.”
That kind of accountability is rare, and it’s a reminder that even the sharpest analysts can miss - especially when a player like Darnold completely rewrites his own narrative.
And what a rewrite it’s been. Darnold, once labeled a bust after a rocky start with the Jets, has found new life in Seattle at 28 years old.
He’s not just managing games - he’s winning them. Sunday’s performance against the Rams was a masterclass in poise and precision, especially against a defense that had rattled plenty of quarterbacks this year.
One of the biggest reasons for Darnold’s success? His chemistry with breakout star Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The second-year wideout was electric all season, racking up 1,793 receiving yards and setting franchise records in the process. Against the Rams, the duo looked unstoppable, connecting on key plays that kept Seattle’s offense humming.
Head coach Mike Macdonald summed it up perfectly postgame: “You can’t talk about the game without talking about our quarterback. He just shut a lot of people up tonight.”
Meanwhile, the other half of the quarterback swap - Geno Smith - endured a brutal season in Las Vegas. After reuniting with Pete Carroll and signing a $75 million extension with the Raiders, Smith’s campaign spiraled.
The team finished 3-14, Smith threw 17 interceptions, and Carroll was ultimately let go. The Raiders now hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and are expected to target Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza as their next franchise QB.
It's a tough ending for Smith, who just a year ago was a Pro Bowler in Seattle.
But this story belongs to Darnold. From castoff to conference champion, his journey has been nothing short of remarkable.
And even Kimes, a lifelong Seahawks fan and one-time skeptic, couldn’t help but celebrate the moment. “Man…I’m just really freakin happy for Sam Darnold,” she posted after the game.
“We were in Arizona for his loss to the Rams last year - to go from that to this, and from castoff to the Super Bowl. What an incredible journey.”
Now, Darnold and the Seahawks are headed to Santa Clara, where they’ll face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX on February 8. One game away from the ultimate redemption arc.