For most of last season, the Seattle Seahawks had to beat one narrative. More often than not, analysts and even fans pointed to Sam Darnold as their weakest link, always expecting him to doom their season with an unfathomable mistake.
Darnold had his ups and downs, like most quarterbacks. The lows were head-scratching, but the highs were impressive enough to make this team look like a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Ultimately, they won it all, with Darnold rising to the occasion when it mattered most.
That's why, now that he's taken the monkey off his back and is a Super Bowl champion, NFL legend Cris Carter believes he's bound to take another leap. In an exclusive interview with Heavy, he predicted Darnold would be even better in 2026:
“I only look for Sam Darnold to get better in that offense,“ Carter said. “...You also have to realize the relief Sam Darnold must feel after becoming a Super Bowl champion and being part of the cog that got them there, with JSN getting a record-breaking contract."
Sam Darnold needs to be even better for the Seattle Seahawks
Darnold won't have Kenneth Walker III leading the way, but the Seahawks gave him a suitable replacement in Jadarian Price. That said, Klint Kubiak's departure is a concern, especially given that Brian Fleury has never called plays and Mike Macdonald has a defensive background.
Still, from a personnel standpoint, the Seahawks have pretty much everything they need to have one of the top scoring offenses in the league again next season. And while Darnold did turn the ball over at an alarming rate in the first half of the campaign, he didn't give the ball away in any playoff game.
All in all, he had four interceptions and one 2 fumbles lost in 10 games since his four-interception game against the Los Angeles Rams. He passed for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns while completing 67.7 percent of his passes, so he should at least get the benefit of the doubt now.
This is Sam Darnold's offense, and his teammates have had his back through thick and thin. That type of confidence and finally getting over the hump after so many years of struggles might've worked wonders for him.
Darnold's talent has always been undeniable, but he seemed to get on his own head way too often. He shouldn't have that type of pressure anymore, even though he might be playing for a new long-term contract this season. That said, after leading the team to the Super Bowl for the first time in more than a decade, it's hard to believe the Seahawks won't give him a new contract at some point.
Add us as a preferred source on Google