Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold played a pivotal role in last season’s run to a Super Bowl LX title, silencing many doubters along the way. As the team prepared for the final preseason clash with the Kansas City Chiefs and eyes shifted toward the 2026 NFL season, questions about Darnold’s place in the quarterback hierarchy persisted.
Last season, Darnold logged 559 pass attempts for Seattle, finishing with an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 79.3. He threw for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns while tossing 14 interceptions. He also recorded 29 big-time throws and 19 turnover-worthy plays, underscoring a production profile that helped Seattle secure a championship-level run.
However, some analysts have attributed the Seahawks’ success to forces beyond the quarterback position. A notable voice in this debate is FOX Sports columnist Jason McIntyre, who suggested that Seattle’s triumph was driven more by elite defense and special teams than by Darnold’s play at quarterback.
On an August edition of The Herd, McIntyre suggested that Darnold was suddenly elevated in public perception, comparing him to Trent Dilfer, the former Ravens quarterback whose success was largely built on a dominant defense and effective game management. McIntyre called Darnold a “deluxe version” of Dilfer, framing him as a game manager who still helped Seattle win.
McIntyre pointed to late-season numbers that appeared to downplay Darnold’s impact. In the final nine games of the previous season, Darnold posted nine touchdowns and 14 giveaways, including nine interceptions. Despite these struggles, Seattle went 8-1, a record McIntyre attributed to the defense carrying the team rather than the quarterback’s performance. While acknowledging Darnold’s positive attributes, he emphasized that the numbers did not support the notion of Darnold as a top-10 quarterback.
Further, McIntyre noted that Seattle did not rely on multiple late-game comebacks to win games. He highlighted two fourth-quarter rallies as examples: one against the Indianapolis Colts, where a 56-yard field goal sealed the win, and another against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, a contest that featured a punt-return touchdown and strong special-teams influence. According to McIntyre, these games illustrated Seattle’s ability to win with a stellar defense and special teams rather than with late-game quarterback heroics.
Darnold’s career has featured strong statistical seasons, including his stint with the Minnesota Vikings and his early days with Seattle. Despite ongoing debates about his standing among top NFL quarterbacks, Darnold’s contributions helped Seattle secure a championship and maintain competitiveness on a high level.
For fans and analysts, the discussion around Darnold’s place in the quarterback pecking order remains nuanced. His track record shows solid production, mixed with moments of turnover risk, and his teams’ success has often correlated with the strength of the supporting unit—defense and special teams—complementing his play at the position. As the Seahawks look ahead to the new season, Darnold’s role will continue to be a focal point of conversations about Seattle’s path to continued postseason contention and potential title defenses.
