Macdonald framed the season as a series of necessary choices rather than moments of surprise. “When you ask ‘are you surprised’ or ‘were you expecting’ about things, that’s really not how we operate,” he said on Monday. “You’re really thinking about what are the decisions we have to make right now that are gonna help our team the most.” Seattle’s front office, with John Schneider’s guidance, believed the fit with Darnold was the right match at the right time.
The timeline of Darnold’s arrival fit a favorable window for Seattle. Geno Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders after a productive 2024 campaign (4,320 passing yards, 21 TDs), while Seattle signed Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million deal following his standout 2023 season with Minnesota (4,319 yards, 35 TDs). Minnesota, seeking salary-cap relief and the chance to develop No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy, signaled a low-risk approach to Darnold’s contract, helping the Seahawks land him at a critical moment.
Darnold’s Seattle debut wasn’t flawless, posting 150 passing yards in a season-opening loss to San Francisco. He quickly found his footing, then delivered a series of standout performances: back-to-back games with more than 200 yards and multiple touchdowns, a 341-yard, four-TD showing against Tampa Bay on Oct. 5, and a 330-yard, four-TD effort against Washington on Nov. 2. His best game came in the NFC Championship, when he threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in Seattle’s shootout win.
Despite a late-season dip with sacks and turnovers in the final two games, Darnold finished the year as the centerpiece of a retooled offense that connected with Macdonald’s vision. Schneider publicly credited the collaborative decision-making process that brought Darnold to Seattle and the careful navigation through the offseason roster changes that made the transition possible.
Darnold now heads into the franchise’s biggest remaining test: one more championship moment to cap the improbable turnaround. If he can deliver a final, decisive performance, the Seahawks would complete a dramatic arc from winless in the playoffs to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
