Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Sam Darnold In Great Company With Another 14+ Win Season
If you had told football fans a few years ago that Sam Darnold would be leading the conversation for the NFC’s top seed in 2026, you probably would have been laughed out of the room. Yet, here we are. The Seattle Seahawks made a massive gamble this offseason, handing Darnold a $100.5 million contract to take the reins of Mike Macdonald’s offense.
It was a move that raised eyebrows across the league, but after a decisive Week 18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, it looks like Seattle is the one getting the last laugh.
Darnold didn’t just beat his former team on Saturday; he etched his name into the history books alongside some legitimate legends. By securing back-to-back seasons with 14 or more wins, first with the Vikings, now with the Seahawks, he joins Tom Brady as the only other quarterback in NFL history to pull off that specific feat.
A Gamble That Paid Off Big
The game itself was a masterclass in efficiency. Darnold wasn’t trying to be a hero; he was trying to be a winner. Going 20-for-26 for 198 yards might not shatter fantasy football records, but it was exactly what Seattle needed to snap the 49ers’ six-game winning streak. He avoided turnovers, took what the defense gave him, and let Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet bruise their way to 171 rushing yards.
When asked about the team’s resilience after the game, Darnold kept it cool, telling ESPN, “We’ve won so many different ways all year.” It is that kind of steady hand that has turned the Seahawks into a legitimate Super Bowl contender. And let’s be honest, earning a $1 million incentive bonus for hitting 4,000 yards and a completion percentage over 67.5% is a pretty nice cherry on top.
From Bust To Boss
It wasn’t always this pretty. Darnold’s early years in New York were defined by “seeing ghosts” and relentless turnover struggles. Even his stint in Carolina felt like a bridge to nowhere. But the narrative has flipped completely. He’s no longer the guy you worry about; he’s the guy you worry about playing against.
Now, the road to the Super Bowl goes through Lumen Field. The “12th Man” will be louder than ever, and for the first time in a long time, they have a quarterback playing with the kind of confidence that wins championships. Darnold has gone from a punchline to a powerhouse, and if this season is any indication, the redemption tour is far from over.
