The Seattle Seahawks have made two bold moves over the past two seasons-and both are paying off in a big way. First, they handed the reins to Mike Macdonald, a defensive-minded coach with a modern edge, to succeed franchise legend Pete Carroll.
Then they made the surprising decision to trade Geno Smith and bring in Sam Darnold to lead the offense. Now?
They’re sitting at 12-3, and both decisions look like home runs.
Let’s start with Macdonald. At 22-10 over his first two seasons, he’s already proving he belongs in the upper tier of NFL head coaches.
His defense has been sharp, his game management sound, and perhaps most importantly, he’s created a culture that’s clearly working. But it’s the Darnold move that’s really turning heads.
Yes, that Sam Darnold.
The former top-three pick who bounced from the Jets to the Panthers, and then to a backup role in San Francisco, is now leading one of the best teams in football. He’s not just managing games-he’s producing.
Darnold currently leads the NFL in net yards per pass attempt (7.97) and yards per completion (13.0). He’s seventh in quarterback rating (100.6) and fifth in touchdown passes (24).
These aren’t fluke numbers. They’re the kind of stats that win games in December and January.
And here’s a fun fact: Darnold now holds the NFL record for most regular season wins by a quarterback who started for two different teams in consecutive years, with 26 and counting. That’s not just a stat line-it’s a statement.
But let’s not pretend it’s been all smooth sailing. Darnold’s had his moments-some of them rough.
The Week 11 loss to the Rams stands out. He threw four interceptions in a 21-19 defeat, and the offense never found its rhythm.
It was a game Seattle could’ve won, and Darnold’s turnovers were a big reason they didn’t.
There were other bumps, too. In Week 5, with the Seahawks driving late, Darnold threw a costly interception that set up a game-winning field goal for the Buccaneers.
And in Week 1, under heavy pressure from the 49ers, he fumbled after right tackle Abraham Lucas was shoved into him. While the blame doesn’t fall entirely on Darnold, ball security in crunch time is part of the job.
So when Mike Macdonald recently went on Seattle Sports 710 AM and said, “Show me the times where in big moments this guy hasn’t responded, as a Seahawk,” it raised some eyebrows. Hosts Mike Salk and Brock Huard paused, then Huard pointed out that Week 5 interception against Tampa Bay.
It was a fair counterpoint. Darnold himself admitted postgame that he was trying to throw the ball away-but did so over the middle of the field, into traffic.
That’s not exactly textbook decision-making.
Still, Macdonald’s loyalty to his quarterback isn’t misplaced. Since that Week 5 loss, the Seahawks have gone 9-1.
Darnold has cleaned up the turnovers, made big throws when needed, and, most importantly, kept the offense humming. He’s not trying to be Mahomes or Allen-he’s playing within the system, and it’s working.
The Seahawks aren’t winning in spite of Darnold. They’re winning with him.
And that’s the bigger picture here. Darnold doesn’t have to be perfect-few quarterbacks are.
What matters is that he’s elevated his game, limited the mistakes, and made the most of a fresh start. He’s not just a redemption story anymore.
He’s a legitimate reason the Seahawks are in the thick of the NFC playoff race.
So while Macdonald’s comment might’ve glossed over a few hiccups, his confidence in Darnold is rooted in results. And right now, those results speak louder than any single throw.