Sam Darnold is back in the middle of everything for the Seattle Seahawks, and this time the expectations look different.
Seattle is getting ready to open the 2026 NFL season at home against the New England Patriots, and one of the biggest reasons the Seahawks are positioned to matter again is the quarterback who just spent his first year with the team proving plenty of people wrong. Darnold enters his second season in Seattle with more responsibility, more familiarity and, after a Super Bowl title, a lot more confidence.
That confidence didn’t come out of nowhere. Over the last two seasons, Darnold has put together a run that has changed the way he’s viewed.
He threw for 8,367 yards, 60 touchdowns and 26 interceptions while completing nearly 70% of his passes. He also went 28-6 as a starter across two teams and two different offensive coordinators.
After winning 14 games as a starter and making the Pro Bowl with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, he did it again with the Seahawks, helping lead Seattle to its second Super Bowl title in franchise history.
The old doubts about whether he could be a franchise quarterback have faded because of what he’s done on the field. His leadership, his ability to attack deep, and the way he handled pressure situations all played a part in Seattle’s championship run.
This year still carries weight for Darnold, though, because it brings something he hasn’t had in a while: continuity. He’s entering his second season with a team for the first time since the Carolina Panthers in 2022, and that kind of stability matters. He knows the offense, he’s built chemistry with the pass-catchers, and he’s coming off a season that gave him even more belief in what he can do.
Still, there are reasons some people keep him a notch below the very top quarterbacks in the league. The turnovers are the obvious concern.
Darnold led all quarterbacks with 20 turnovers last season, including 14 interceptions, and he had the third-most interceptions in the league. Six of those picks came in two games against the Los Angeles Rams, and a good chunk of his fumbles were tied to poor blocking.
Even so, Darnold has shown he can learn from those mistakes. He didn’t turn the ball over in Seattle’s three postseason games, which is part of why the Seahawks trust him so much heading into another season.
The one wrinkle that could affect him is on the sideline. Seattle changed offensive coordinators, moving from Kilnt Kubiak to Brian Fleury.
The Seahawks won’t have the same play-calling continuity they wanted, even if most of the offensive philosophy stays in place. Some analysts believe that change could keep Darnold from reaching the same level, even though he’s been dealing with new systems and new teams for years.
In Other News...
Seahawks Mourn A Respected Coach Who Helped Shape A Super Bowl Unit
Charles Kippy Brown left a real footprint on the Seahawks side of the NFL, long before the current era of Seattle football took shape. A trailblazer at Memphis State as the schools first Black quarterback, Brown went on to build a lengthy coaching career in both the NFL and college football, earning respect wherever he landed and collecting a Super Bowl ring along the way. His work in Seattle was part of a run that helped shape a championship-level unit, and his passing at 71 prompted immediate remembrance from around the game.
Pete Carroll and former players were among those sharing condolences and stories about the impact Brown had on their careers and lives. The common thread in those tributes was simple enough: Brown was more than a coach, he was a steady, positive presence whose influence extended well beyond game plans and film rooms. For a franchise that still values the people behind its best teams, his death is one more reminder of how much of the Seahawks history was built by figures who never sought the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Russell Wilson Just Gave Seahawks Fans Another Reason To Appreciate Him
Russell Wilsons latest nod from Pro Football Focus offered Seahawks fans another reminder of why his Seattle years still resonate. The longtime quarterback, who spent 14 seasons in the NFL and helped bring the franchise its first Super Bowl title, was ranked highest among quarterbacks for big time throws, adding another line to a career that already places him among the games most notable dual-threat passers.
Wilsons reaction was the part that landed with Seattle supporters. Rather than making it about himself, he used social media to praise his former teammates, and the response from fans reflected how much his humility still matters to them. For a player whose legacy in Seattle is already secure, moments like this help explain why so many around the Seahawks continue to appreciate him. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Wilson Deal Came Down To The Wire For Cardinals
Arizonas long-running effort to keep its receiver room intact finally reached the finish line when Michael Wilson agreed to a three-year, $75 million extension after negotiations dragged close to the deadline. For a division that has spent plenty of time measuring itself against big-money skill players and premium defensive deals, the timing mattered almost as much as the total, especially with the Cardinals clearly determined not to let a core piece drift toward uncertainty.
For Seattle, the larger roster backdrop is just as familiar. Leonard Williams locked in his own three-year, $90 million extension with substantial guarantees and bonuses, a reminder that the Seahawks have been willing to pay to preserve one of their most important defensive pieces. Across the division, contract talks and comeback stories continue to shape the offseason conversation, even as San Francisco watched Nick Bosa make his return to practice after a long recovery that included more than one obstacle. [Read more 🡒]