In the aftermath of the NFC Championship, emotions were running high in the Seattle Seahawks locker room - and not just for the starters. Backup quarterback Drew Lock, a former Missouri standout, found himself visibly moved when asked about the man who led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl: Sam Darnold.
Lock and Darnold go way back. Their friendship started in high school during the Elite 11 quarterback camp, and though they entered the NFL in different draft classes, their paths have converged in Seattle, where they’ve shared a QB room this season. So when Darnold delivered a standout performance in the biggest game of his professional career to date, it clearly hit home for Lock.
“I’ll say this, I’m 100% not surprised at all,” Lock said, holding back tears. “He is, for lack of better words, very, very, very good at his job.
He is a competitor, studies like no other, so smart. Couple that with the throws that we all get to visually see.
He’s outstanding.”
That’s not just praise from a teammate - that’s admiration from someone who’s seen Darnold’s journey up close. From high school prodigies to NFL professionals, Lock has witnessed Darnold's growth firsthand. And when a reporter noticed the emotion in his voice and asked why this moment meant so much, Lock didn’t hold back.
“You know, just buddies back a long time ago,” Lock said. “Somehow, we get to be together in a quarterback room with Jalen [Milroe], who’s been amazing.
Quarterback - you feel for another quarterback. So to see him get hurt, you know how much it means to him, you know how much winning a game like this would mean to him.
If the shoes were reversed, I know how much it’d mean to me. I’m just really proud of him.”
It’s a rare moment of vulnerability in a sport often defined by toughness, but it speaks volumes about the brotherhood that exists in NFL quarterback rooms. These aren’t just competitors - they’re comrades.
And for Lock, watching Darnold battle through adversity, take command of the offense, and now lead the Seahawks to the biggest stage in football is more than just a professional moment. It’s personal.
Now, Lock will take on the role of supportive teammate as Darnold prepares to face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. It’s a full-circle moment for two quarterbacks who once dreamed of these opportunities as teenagers. And for Lock, there’s no doubt - his friend earned every bit of it.