When the Seattle Seahawks made two of the boldest moves of the 2025 offseason-trading away DK Metcalf and handing the keys to the offense to quarterback Sam Darnold-there were more than a few raised eyebrows. They weren’t just reshuffling the deck; they were betting big on a new offensive identity. Fast forward to now, and that gamble has the Seahawks headed to Super Bowl LX, with Darnold thriving and Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerging as one of the league’s most dangerous weapons.
Darnold, now 28, recently joined The Dan Patrick Show and opened up about what it’s been like working with Smith-Njigba, who’s taken over as Seattle’s top wideout. His praise was clear and candid: “He’s just a special talent.”
But Darnold didn’t stop at the usual platitudes. He peeled back the curtain on the kind of chemistry that’s helped power Seattle’s offense all the way to the sport’s biggest stage.
"He's a special talent."
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) January 30, 2026
– Sam Darnold on throwing to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. pic.twitter.com/D3NBi5Mi9r
“He’s someone that is very quarterback-friendly,” Darnold explained. “He allows, you know, with his body language and the way that he runs routes, he’s very friendly to throw to.”
That phrase-“quarterback-friendly”-might sound like a buzzword, but in this context, it’s telling. Darnold’s talking about a receiver who doesn’t just run routes; he communicates mid-play, often without a word. It’s a level of synchronization that’s rare, especially for a duo in their first season together.
“It’s easy for me to feel kinda what he’s thinking and what he’s doing on the field,” Darnold added. “Whether he’s gonna come out of a route at full speed or if he’s gonna come out of a route and maybe wrap the corner and show me his numbers and maybe slow down a little bit.”
That subtlety-those micro-adjustments in route tempo and body positioning-are what separate good receivers from great ones. And Smith-Njigba, according to Darnold, disguises everything so well that defenders can’t get a read on him.
“He makes everything look the same. With all the different routes and stems that come off those routes,” Darnold said.
That ability to mask his intentions has been a nightmare for opposing secondaries all season-and the numbers back it up. Smith-Njigba exploded in his first year as the Seahawks’ WR1, leading the league in receiving yards with 1,793.
He hauled in 119 receptions and found the end zone 10 times. Those aren’t just big numbers-they’re league-defining numbers.
And now, with the Super Bowl looming, Smith-Njigba’s role becomes even more crucial. He’s expected to be shadowed by New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, a rising star in his own right and a two-time Pro Bowler. It’s a heavyweight matchup that could tilt the balance of the title game.
Smith-Njigba’s route running, timing, and rapport with Darnold have been the heartbeat of Seattle’s offense all season. If they can keep that rhythm going against one of the league’s top corners, the Seahawks just might complete their stunning climb to the top.