Cam Jordan Sounds the Alarm on Sam Darnold Ahead of Super Bowl LX
The spotlight heading into Super Bowl LX might be fixed squarely on Drake Maye and his meteoric rise in New England, but not everyone’s buying the idea that the rookie quarterback is the biggest threat on the field. Saints veteran Cam Jordan, never one to shy away from calling it how he sees it, offered a different take this week-and his warning had nothing to do with Maye.
Appearing on First Take, Jordan pointed to Seattle’s Sam Darnold as the quarterback who keeps defensive coordinators up at night. Not because of gaudy stats or highlight-reel plays, but because of the ecosystem around him. According to Jordan, it’s not just about the quarterback-it’s about the whole picture.
“You’ve got to look at the full picture when you’re game-planning,” Jordan said. And when you zoom out and take in the Seahawks’ offensive setup, it’s clear what he means.
With Kenneth Walker III pounding defenses on the ground, Seattle doesn’t need Darnold to play hero ball. That’s a massive advantage.
Instead of forcing throws into tight windows or scrambling under duress, Darnold gets to operate within the flow of a balanced, well-oiled offense.
“You’ve got Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, you’ve got a dominant run game… Sam Darnold is playing excellent,” Jordan emphasized.
It’s not just about the names on the roster-it’s about how they fit together. The presence of two high-IQ, high-skill receivers in Smith-Njigba and Kupp gives Darnold reliable targets who can win early and often. That, combined with a physical, downhill run game, opens up the play-action game-and that’s where Darnold has been quietly lethal.
“He’s hitting those big plays when they’re available,” Jordan noted. That’s the key.
Darnold isn’t forcing it. He’s taking what the defense gives him-and when the defense overcommits to stopping the run, he’s making them pay.
Jordan also pointed out the impact of Seattle’s defense, which has been one of the most disruptive units in the league this postseason. That kind of defensive dominance changes the calculus.
It means Darnold doesn’t have to chase points or carry the offense on his back. He can stay within the system, pick his spots, and let the game come to him.
That’s a dangerous formula.
While Maye’s arm talent and improvisational flair have made him the darling of highlight reels, Jordan argues that Darnold’s role in a complete, disciplined system is the tougher puzzle to solve. It’s not about who’s flashier-it’s about who’s harder to scheme against. And right now, with the way Seattle is built, Darnold is thriving in a role that maximizes his strengths and minimizes his weaknesses.
Let’s be clear: Darnold isn’t being asked to throw it 40 times a game. He doesn’t need to be the hero.
But that’s exactly what makes him so dangerous. The Seahawks can lean on the run, control the tempo, and let Darnold pick his spots.
And when those spots come-whether it’s a seam route to Kupp or a deep shot to Smith-Njigba-he’s been ready.
That’s the system synergy Jordan is talking about. A quarterback who doesn’t have to be Superman, because the team around him is doing its job.
But if the run game gets bottled up and the pressure mounts? That’s where Darnold’s decision-making will be tested.
And that’s where the game could turn.
Still, if you’re drawing up a defensive gameplan for Sunday, Jordan’s message is clear: don’t overlook the guy in the Seahawks’ huddle. Because while Maye might steal the headlines, it’s Darnold-steady, efficient, and surrounded by weapons-who might just steal the show.