Russell Wilson may be nearing the twilight of his playing career, but that doesn’t mean he’s stepping away from the game-at least not from the sidelines of the conversation. The longtime Seahawks quarterback is still keeping a close eye on his former team, and based on his recent reaction to Seattle’s dominant win over the 49ers in the Divisional Round, he’s not shy about showing some love.
After watching the Seahawks dismantle San Francisco on Saturday night, Wilson jumped on social media to share his thoughts-and he didn’t hold back. “Last Night’s game… shows how LEGIT this @Seahawks Team is… and I Love Sam Darnold’s comeback story!” Wilson posted, giving props not only to his old team but also to the man now under center in Seattle.
There’s a bit of poetry in Wilson’s praise. Darnold, like Wilson, has had a winding road through the NFL.
Once a top draft pick with lofty expectations, Darnold bounced around the league, battling inconsistency and injuries before landing in Seattle. Now, with the Seahawks one win away from the Super Bowl, the 26-year-old quarterback is writing one of the league’s most compelling comeback stories.
And Wilson-who knows a thing or two about redemption arcs-is clearly here for it.
It’s also worth noting that Wilson’s comments come with a healthy dose of perspective. He once held the keys to the Seahawks’ offense and was the face of the franchise for nearly a decade.
But his exit from Seattle was messy, marked by reports of internal friction and a desire for more control. Now, watching from afar, he’s offering support rather than critique-something that speaks volumes about his respect for what’s happening in Seattle.
And what’s happening is impressive. Head coach Mike Macdonald has turned the Seahawks’ defense into a force.
They didn’t just beat the 49ers-they stifled one of the NFL’s most creative offenses. Sure, San Francisco was dealing with injuries, but Kyle Shanahan has made a career out of scheming around setbacks.
Against Seattle, though, the tricks didn’t work. The Seahawks were fast, disciplined, and relentless.
That defensive dominance is giving Darnold the platform he needs. He doesn’t have to be perfect-he just has to be efficient, smart, and clutch.
So far, he’s been all three. But the real test is still to come.
Next up: the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams. These two teams split their regular-season meetings, and this third matchup is shaping up to be the most important of them all. If Darnold can lead Seattle past LA and into the Super Bowl, it won’t just be a comeback-it’ll be a full-blown arrival.
But if he stumbles? If turnovers creep in and the moment proves too big?
The questions will come back fast and loud. That’s the nature of the position.
For now, though, Darnold has earned the belief of his teammates, his coaches-and, apparently, one of the most iconic quarterbacks in Seahawks history.
Russell Wilson will be watching. And so will the rest of us.