Mike Macdonald is playing catch up getting to know his new QB1 after the Seahawks signed Sam Darnold to kick off free agency.
He likes what he's learned so far.
"I think it's interesting because I haven't had a relationship with Sam before a couple weeks ago, and it's been awesome so far, our conversations," Macdonald said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "It's been really cool to hear about people that have had a relationship with him in his life kind of throughout his journey, and all positive things they say about him. All the way back to his college days at USC, we have some of those folks still in our building right now.
"I'm most excited about the person, the leader, the teammate, that guy that we get to work with every day. I think he's in a great spot from our conversations. I think he's energized, he's driven and just like the rest of us in the building, so he's going to fit right in."
Seattle has undergone a complete overhaul heading into Macdonald's second year at the helm. Gone are wide receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, to be replaced by Cooper Kupp, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and possibly some more help through the draft. Demarcus Lawrence has signed on after 11 years with the Dallas Cowboys to bolster the Seahawks' pass rush.
Most important of all, ready to lead the way under center, Darnold inked a deal days after Seattle agreed to trade Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Seahawks, now absent a playoff berth in two straight seasons for the first time since 2008-09, are hoping Darnold and the rest of the pieces jell together quickly.
And despite the roster turnover, Seattle likely doesn't feel far from breaking through to the postseason after a 2024 season with double-digit wins fell just short.
The drive Macdonald sees in Darnold to help their squad return to serious contention was likely forged by the former No. 3 overall pick's arduous journey to this point.
Selected by the Jets in 2018, Darnold crashed out in New York thanks to throwing 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions with a 13-25 record through three seasons. He similarly struggled in two seasons with the Carolina Panthers before a rehabilitation year of sorts learning from Kyle Shanahan as a San Francisco 49ers backup.
Then came his breakout, a 14-3 run with the Minnesota Vikings in which Darnold threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and made his first Pro Bowl.
Darnold found detractors even then, most notably after poor play in a Week 18 battle for the NFC's No. 1 seed against the Detroit Lions and a follow-up flop against the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round.
Seattle was unfazed by a two-game downturn against the backdrop of a season-long turnaround, however, signing Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract.
For the first time in many years, a starting QB job unquestionably belongs to the 27-year-old signal-caller.
Macdonald is encouraged by how he and Darnold have connected thus far.
Over the next several months, they'll get to work building on that optimism, hopefully producing concrete results to match come September.
