Seattle's offensive overhaul this offseason was highlighted by the signing of quarterback Sam Darnold, who inked a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seahawks following a resurgent 2024 season in Minnesota.
The 28-year-old veteran quarterback is gearing up to prove himself once again not only because of the expectations he's set to face in Seattle, but based on how his lone season with the Vikings ended.
"For lack of a better term, we laid an egg as an offense," Darnold said of his last start in an exclusive interview with The Athletic's Mike Silver this past week. "And I think, for me personally, that sucks. I felt like we were a really good team, but at the end of the day -- and this is gonna sound a little pessimistic -- but when you get to the end of it and you don't win the whole thing, you failed.
"I feel like I could have played way better, to be completely honest with you. I feel I didn't play up to my standard. I truly feel that way. I feel like if I would have just played better, I would've been able to give the team a chance."
Darnold led the Vikings on a remarkable 14-3 campaign, but it culminated in a disappointing loss to the Rams in the Wild Card Round. Coupled with a Week 18 defeat to the Lions -- a game for the NFC North title which would have given Minnesota a No. 1 seed -- Minnesota's run ended with two weeks of offensive despair with Darnold at the helm.
There was still plenty of good reason for the Seahawks to bring Darnold aboard. He put up career highs in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) in what was his first Pro Bowl season, one where he saw tremendous growth after spending the previous campaign in San Francisco as a primary backup.
The Seahawks also brought in Cooper Kupp into the fold in 2025, providing new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak the hardware for a reliable connection. So far, the former All-Pro wide receiver has seen a Darnold not resting on the laurels of a tremendous comeback season that resulted in a big pay day.
"I think without a doubt, he's got his best football ahead of him," Kupp told Silver. "I love his competitiveness. He's not OK with things being just OK."
Playing for a third different team in as many seasons, Darnold isn't unfamiliar with his current situation with the Seahawks. The former No. 3 overall pick's winding career as seen plenty of ups and downs, and he will be using those past experiences with the hope of finally establishing a lasting home in Seattle.
"I learned a lot last season, from those two games especially," Darnold said. "At the end of the day, you go through those experiences, you learn, and you get better. I try every single day to get better. That's it."
