Sam Darnold

NFL player. Position: QB. Team: SEA.

Quick Facts

• Position: QB
• Team: SEA (Seattle Seahawks)
• Bye week (2026): 11
• FantasyPros PPR rank (pulled 2026-05-21): 137

2026 Outlook

Week 6 turnover spiral deepens: Darnold's ongoing turnover troubles continued in Week 5's loss to San Francisco with two additional interceptions, compounding five sacks (most since joining Seattle). His eighth turnover across the Seahawks' last three games—including five from Darnold himself—has become a critical weakness as the team enters Thursday's primetime matchup against Denver. The sloppiness isn't new, as his 20 total turnovers in 2025 ranked among the league leaders. Protection issues on the offensive line remain a factor, but the interceptions suggest mechanical breakdown rather than just poor blocking. Denver's opportunistic defense is preaching takeaways this week, creating an unfavorable script for Darnold's already-fragile confidence (per Seahawks vs. Broncos: Three must-know storylines for Thursday's Week 6 prime-time game - NFL.com and NFL Week 6 Thursday Night Football Bettors Guide: Seahawks at Broncos - New York Daily News).

Week 6 vs Denver catastrophe (Oct 16): Darnold had one of the worst games of his Seahawks tenure in Thursday night's 17-14 OT loss to Denver. He was sacked five times and threw two interceptions, including a critical error in overtime that cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian returned to set up the Broncos' game-winning field goal. The performance marked his third consecutive week with multiple turnovers (Week 4 had 2 INTs, Week 5 had 2 INTs, Week 6 had 2 INTs) for six turnovers in three games—a nightmare stretch that raises questions about whether the offensive line collapse is masking deeper mechanical or decision-making issues. Darnold's vulnerability against elite defenses like Denver has become a season-defining concern. Most troublingly, even his big plays didn't lead to points: a 32-yard completion to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a contested catch put Seattle in field-goal range, but Darnold rushed another throw to an even worse outcome. The pattern suggests not just line issues but deteriorating decision-making under pressure (per Broncos' offense goes nowhere after halftime but wins in OT after Seahawks' Sam Darnold throws INT - Yahoo Sports).

Darnold returns for his second Seahawks season under the same Kyle Shanahan-based offensive system, but with a new voice at OC: Brian Fleury, whom Darnold knows from his 2023 season in San Francisco as the 49ers' backup. Fleury spent seven years with San Francisco and is well-versed in the Shanahan system that stems from Mike Shanahan's 1990s Denver offenses—the exact lineage Kubiak also ran (per Seahawks going to the 49ers for new OC; Seattle's QB coach going to Raiders). This familiarity should smooth the transition from Kubiak and preserve the offensive continuity that powered Seattle's Super Bowl run. Critically, the Seahawks retained OL coach John Benton with a promotion to senior offensive assistant—a retention of the coach most responsible for the team's dramatic offensive line improvement in 2025 (declared by GM John Schneider as the team's most improved unit). Benton's mastery of the outside-zone blocking system provides continuity in execution (per Mike Macdonald's 2026 Seahawks coaching staff, and how they kept John Benton).

Week 1 injury (Sep 16): Darnold left the Seahawks' win over New England in the first quarter with a soft-tissue glute injury. The Seahawks ruled him out for Week 2 vs. Arizona but have no plans to place him on IR—fantasy indicator that he's expected to miss roughly 4 weeks but could return sooner (per Seahawks rule out Sam Darnold for Week 2, but potential timetable for return emerges). Drew Lock took over in Week 1 and threw a 45-yard TD to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on fourth-and-1.

Fleury emphasized continuity in his first media appearances: "There's not many things to fix" and the offense will look "very similar to the one that just won the Super Bowl." Both Fleury and Macdonald aligned on maintaining the "fast, violent, aggressive" culture and principles (per Brian Fleury's, Mike Macdonald's theme for new Seahawks OC: Continuity in style). New QB coach Tyson Prince, promoted from assistant WR coach, brings fresh developmental perspective; Jake Peetz returns as pass-game coordinator with added QB coaching duties (per Mike Macdonald's 2026 Seahawks coaching staff, and how they kept John Benton). However, a potential shift to a two-back approach (49ers ran two-back 45% vs Seahawks' prior 24%) may modestly reduce Darnold's pass volume but should stabilize overall offensive execution. Darnold's mid-season improvement on short/mid-range improvised plays suits Fleury's system. First-time play-caller status is mitigated by Fleury's intensive film preparation and diverse NFL experience (Bills, Browns, Dolphins, 49ers).

Darnold's Super Bowl-winning 2025 season stands as a powerful example of how early draft-season skepticism about QB prospects is often wrong. Despite a previously doubted resume entering the Seahawks system, he led Seattle to a championship—a stark reminder that the draft's loudest voices often miss badly on QB evaluations. (per Fernando Mendoza should be doubted -- and 'perfect' QB can prove haters wrong by beating Dan Orlovsky)

At OTAs in early June, Darnold confirmed the smooth transition: "Thankfully it hasn't been too much of a transition...It's a lot of the same stuff...but a couple different wrinkles here and there" (per 10 first-year NFL coordinators under most pressure in 2026).

Vikings regret narrative (June 11): Zone Coverage's analysis of the Vikings' current QB competition suggests the team may regret letting Darnold walk to Seattle. Darnold's 2025 Super Bowl win with the Seahawks contrasts sharply with J.J. McCarthy's regression in 2025, raising the question: if the Vikings had held a real competition between Darnold and McCarthy (instead of prioritizing McCarthy), Darnold likely would have won. The Vikings chose McCarthy's "upside" over Darnold's "certainty," and it didn't work out. Now facing a similar split-reps inefficiency between Murray and McCarthy, the Vikings are repeating a strategic mistake. Darnold's Super Bowl success proves that the Vikings' 2024 decision to let him walk was a miscalculation. (per The Kyler Murray Situation Highlights A Sam Darnold Mistake) His comfort level with Fleury's system and approach validates the coaching continuity strategy.

Fleury's past experience as a TE coach may shift the offensive approach toward multi-TE sets. The article notes Fleury "would love the ability to use different personnel groups" and that previous Kubiak years saw two-or-more TE usage on 43% of plays. Under Fleury, weeks with matchup-specific game planning could increase TE deployment, which might slightly reduce overall pass volume for Darnold compared to Kubiak's 2025 approach. This remains a modest risk for fantasy owners given the offense's balance between run and pass (per The Seahawks may be an offense to approach with caution in Fantasy Football with Klint Kubiak now in Vegas).

CBS Sports' mid-summer QB tier ranking placed Darnold in "Borderline Stars" — Tier 2 — noting that "Darnold delivered a Pro Bowl 2024 season with the Vikings, and he reached the mountaintop with Seattle in 2025. He begins the 2026 season as the starting quarterback for the defending Super Bowl champions." The ranking reflects acknowledgment of his proven success, though it stops short of placing him in the elite tier (per Ranking NFL starting quarterbacks by tiers ahead of the 2026 season).

July 20 OC continuity confirmed: Seahawks training camp preview confirms Brian Fleury's offensive philosophy as "very similar to the one that just won the Super Bowl." Fleury stated "There's not many things to fix," validating the continuity narrative around the system preservation. This removes a major risk for Darnold heading into 2026: rather than a fifth different coordinator causing instability, Fleury's Shanahan-system familiarity (from seven years in San Francisco and the same lineage as Kubiak) should smooth the transition to new play-caller status. Retention of OL coach John Benton with a promotion to senior offensive assistant further stabilizes execution (per Top Seahawks Storylines Going Into Training Camp 2026).

USC legacy milestone (Sept 26): Darnold holds the distinction of being the first former USC quarterback to win a Super Bowl, joining a lineage of USC QBs in the NFL that includes Caleb Williams (current Bears starter) and recently-retired Mark Sanchez. His 2025 Super Bowl victory with Seattle validates both the USC Trojans program and the skepticism-defying arc of his career from third-round pick to Super Bowl champion and defending league starter. (per USC Trojans in NFL Dealing With Pivotal Injuries - Sports Illustrated)

Week 1 championship defense (Sept 9): Darnold defends the Super Bowl title in the 2026 kickoff game Wednesday night against the Patriots—a Super Bowl rematch that's only the third such kickoff game in NFL history. Defending Super Bowl champions are 16-5 in NFL Kickoff games since 2004, favoring continuity and experience. The Seahawks' defense that destroyed the Patriots in February remains intact, and the offense (with Darnold, JSN, and continuity at OC with Brian Fleury) should command 3.5-point home favorites. SportsLine's main projection is Seahawks -3 based on the defending champs' retention of key contributors despite questions about offensive line and the new play-caller system (per Seahawks vs. Patriots picks, predictions, best bets: Betting preview for 2026 NFL Kickoff Game]).

Maintaining explosive play rate (Ringer): The Ringer identifies Fleury's core challenge: maintaining Seattle's explosive play rate from the Super Bowl run. Seattle's 2025 offense was powered by big plays; the team scored only 5 TDs that did NOT feature a 20+ yard gain (only Houston scored fewer). Kenneth Walker's elite running, Darnold's big arm, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba's deep route running all fed explosive opportunities. With Walker gone to Kansas City but all passing-game pieces returning, Fleury has a runway to maintain that explosiveness—he even drafted first-round RB Jadarian Price to replace Walker's role. The secondary challenge: improving consistency on non-explosive drives. If Fleury can thread both needles—maintaining the explosive upside while improving predictable efficiency—he'll validate his path to future head coaching opportunities. For Darnold, this means the ceiling remains high (explosive plays drive fantasy scoring) as long as Fleury maintains the Shanahan-system identity (per The Next Generation of NFL Play Callers Is Here - The Ringer).

However, a CBS Sports predictive model identifies Darnold as a potential 2026 bust. The model notes that while his on-field impact is undeniable, it doesn't translate to fantasy production. The Seahawks play in a run-first offense (ranked 3rd in rushing attempts, 29th in pass attempts), which caps his ceiling. Additionally, Darnold led the NFL with 20 turnovers in 2025 (6 lost fumbles, 14 INTs) and provides minimal rushing value (under 100 yards, 0 TDs). The loss of Kenneth Walker III means defenses may stack the run more, further limiting Darnold's pass opportunities. The model projects him as QB20 in 2026, down from QB14 in 2025. (per Fantasy football rankings 2026: Sleepers, breakouts, busts by model that predicted...)

Week 1 glute injury + Week 3 status: Darnold's 2026 season got off to a difficult start when he suffered a glute injury on just his fifth snap of the season opener against New England. He missed Week 2 but has cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play in Week 3 for the first time after the injury. Drew Lock started Weeks 1-2 during the absence. This marks the end of Darnold's historic availability streak (17 games in each of 2024 and 2025), though the injury is not season-ending and he's tracking for a return by Week 3 (per NFL injury report for Week 3: Updates on Puka Nacua, Sam Darnold, Nick Bosa, Joey Porter and more - CBS Sports).

NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Darnold's injury is expected to keep him out for Week 2 "and potentially more," describing it as "probably a couple games" per his sources. If Darnold misses multiple weeks, backup Drew Lock takes over; Seahawks' contingency planning also includes potential trade options like Pittsburgh's Mason Rudolph. (per Fantasy football injury updates on Kyler Murray, Zay Flowers, more)

The team described it as a "unique soft-tissue" injury affecting his right glute/hip area. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center for testing overnight after the game, indicating significant initial discomfort. The Seahawks announced no firm timeline for return but indicated it's a "short-term injury" not expected to sideline him long term. (per Seahawks say Sam Darnold has 'unique soft-tissue' injury)

Sept 15 — Four-week return timeline (Garafolo): NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Darnold is "looking at about a 4 week return to play" from the glute tendon injury, with potential to beat that window. Injury confirmed as soft-tissue glute/tendon issue with hip joint damage ruled out via testing. Seattle sought multiple outside medical opinions on treatment and timetable. If timeline holds from Sept 9 injury date, Week 5 home game vs 49ers (Oct 11) sits just beyond 4-week mark; quicker recovery could put Oct 4 Chargers game in play. Drew Lock performed admirably in relief (16/22, 187 yards, TD beating Patriots 13-10), establishing himself as capable interim starter. (per Seahawks' Sam Darnold Gets Return Timeline From NFL Insider Amid 'Unique' Injury - Yahoo Sports)

Contingency planning if injury lingers (Sept 12): With Darnold's Week 1 hip injury raising questions about his availability beyond Week 2, reporting indicates the Seahawks are exploring contingency options at QB. Backup Drew Lock was promoted to handle increased reps in case Darnold's recovery extends beyond the initial estimate. Should the injury sideline Darnold for multiple weeks, the Seahawks are reportedly considering QB trade options including Pittsburgh Steelers' Mason Rudolph—an 8-year veteran with Super Bowl experience who understands a similar Shanahan-system offense. Rudolph is on a two-year, $7.5M contract with the Steelers and would cost just $17M guaranteed to acquire. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald was a Steelers assistant and respects Rudolph's command and locker-room presence. For fantasy owners, this contingency planning suggests the Seahawks take Darnold's injury seriously and won't hesitate to replace him if recovery stalls—a risk to monitor ahead of Week 2 (per NFL Trade Rumor: Seattle Seahawks urgently linked to $17M Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback amid Sam Darnold...).

NFL Top 100 ranking (Aug 21): Darnold ranked No. 21 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 list, one of only three Seahawks to make the final 100. The recognition reflects his Super Bowl-winning 2025 season and demonstrates how defensive adjustments will target his arm and decision-making in 2026, particularly given his 20 turnover total last year. (per NFL Top 100 Players of 2026: JSN makes top 10, but only 3 Seahawks featured)

Role / Depth Chart

Starter for Seattle. Signed to a five-year, fully guaranteed contract in 2025.

Injury Status

Week 1 hip injury (Sept 10): Darnold left the Seahawks' season opener against the Patriots in the first quarter after taking a sack. He initially went to the sideline but walked to the medical tent during the ensuing Patriots drive with what was reported as a hip injury. Darnold then walked to the locker room on his own power but his return is questionable. Drew Lock replaced Darnold and remained in the game. This marks Darnold's first injury of significance in his two-year Seahawks tenure (he played in all 17 games in 2024 and 2025, including the postseason) (per Week 1 NFL Injury Tracker: Sam Darnold Heads to Locker Room, Drew Lock in for Seahawks - Sports Illustrated and Sam Darnold Injury Update: Seahawks QB Limps Off Field in First Quarter - Sports Illustrated).

Week 2 status (Sept 17): Seahawks officially ruled Darnold out for Week 2 vs. Arizona with no plans to place him on injured reserve. The decision reflects the team's belief he'll be available sooner rather than later—likely within the 4-week window reported earlier. Drew Lock continues to start in his absence (per NFL news, live updates: Nico Collins battling hamstring injury; Joe Burrow will play). Ian Rapoport confirmed Week 4 vs. Chargers (Oct 4) is the "likely target" for Darnold's return, with Week 3 vs. Washington "increasingly likely" to be missed as well (per NFL Week 4 the 'likely target' for Seahawks QB Sam Darnold to return).

Sept 20 update: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Darnold is "recovering faster than anyone had anticipated" from his glute tendon injury and could return to practice "in some form or fashion" the week of Sept 23-29. This suggests potential Week 4 availability (vs. Chargers on Oct 4) is more realistic than initially feared, with Week 5 (vs. 49ers, Oct 11) also possible if he continues the positive trajectory (per Sam Darnold is 'recovering faster than anyone had anticipated' - Yahoo Sports).

Sept 23 Week 3 update: Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald told media that Darnold will practice and continue to practice as the week progresses, signaling a positive trajectory toward Sunday availability in Week 3 vs. Washington. The iterative practice approach suggests the team is cautiously optimistic about his return, though game-day decision remains possible if swelling or discomfort resurfaces during the week (per Latest NFL injury updates as Sam Darnold, Jaxson Dart, get news on ailments - USA Today). Darnold's imminent return has big implications for JSN: if Darnold plays Week 3, the Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Darnold connection—which tallied 155 yards and three TDs with Drew Lock in Week 2—stands to become even more explosive. For fantasy, Darnold's return should boost JSN's ceiling and reset the Seahawks' passing attack after two weeks of Drew Lock utility (per Latest NFL injury updates as Sam Darnold, Jaxson Dart, get news on ailments - USA Today).

Sept 25 Week 3 confirmation: Darnold returned to full participant status in practice Thursday and was off the injury report Friday, officially cleared for Week 3 start vs. Washington. Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed Darnold is "ready to go." The glute injury recovery exceeded team expectations, validating the rapid-recovery trajectory reported earlier in the week. Darnold's return removes the Drew Lock contingency and re-establishes the Seahawks' explosive passing attack centered on JSN (per NFL injury tracker Week 3: Latest news, fantasy implications as Sam Darnold (glute) 'ready to go'; Caleb Williams (hamstring), Puka Nacua (hip) unlikely to play).

Week 3 turnover struggles (Sept 28): Darnold struggled against Washington with three interceptions—two were tipped/deflected (one by DeMarcus Lawrence at the line, one by rookie Kain Medrano returned for a touchdown on a naked bootleg), but the third was a genuine decision-making error to C.J. Gardner-Johnson from just outside the red zone on third-and-5. Leading the NFL in total turnovers in 2025 (20: 6 lost fumbles, 14 INTs), Darnold's 2026 season shows similar ball-security concerns despite the Super Bowl win. The Seahawks' three-turnover game produced 21 points for Washington, demonstrating how turnover management—not explosive plays alone—determines winning football in tight contests. (per Big Week 3 losses: Seahawks, Pats, Texans, Chargers, Panthers - ESPN)

Week 4 elite defense, power ranking climb (Oct 6): Darnold led the Seahawks to a 30-23 Week 4 win over the Chargers that vaulted Seattle to No. 3 in Bleacher Report's power rankings. Though Darnold did not turn in a high-volume game (13-of-22 for 168 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT), he delivered in key moments and exemplified the Super Bowl-winning quarterback the team sought when it signed him. Seattle's defense sacked Justin Herbert four times and hit him on 10 occasions, validating the elite defensive infrastructure around Darnold. The Seahawks enter a brutal stretch against the 49ers, Broncos, Chiefs, and Bears, but Bleacher Report highlighted Darnold's ability to manage the offense and convert critical situations as a defining strength (per Seahawks ascend in Bleacher Report power rankings following Week 4 - Seahawks Wire).

JSN accidentally breaks Darnold return news (Sept 26): Seahawks star WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba revealed on "The Rich Eisen Show" that Darnold would return for Week 3 vs. Washington before the team made an official announcement. JSN said "We get to have Sam Darnold back. So, I'm excited" before catching himself and trying to soften the slip by adding "He looks good out there, I'll say that." Coaching staff addressed the slip afterward, but the news was already public. Fans reacted with humor ("He snitched," "Cat officially out of the bag"), and some fantasy players noted it's information that should have been public already. The news confirmed no injury designation for Darnold heading into Sunday (per 'He Snitched,' 'Cat Officially Out of The Bag' — NFL Fans Take Notice as Seahawks Star Jaxon Smith-Njigba Accidentally Breaks News on Sam Darnold).

Coach Mike Macdonald ruled out a hip fracture after medical evaluation at Harborview Medical Center during the game. "We were able to rule out a fracture. It's positive...great news," Macdonald said. The Seahawks don't play again until Sept. 20 at Arizona, giving an 11-day gap for evaluation and potential recovery. Macdonald expressed uncertainty about Darnold's availability for Week 2. Follow-up reporting from NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter on Sept. 10 indicated "Darnold is expected to miss next week's game, but he should be back sooner, rather than later...could be just a few weeks." Further testing revealed Darnold has "a very unique soft-tissue injury" to his glute with no firm timeline for return — the Seahawks had initially feared a fractured hip socket, which was ruled out. The injury is not considered long-term despite the unusual nature. Injured reserve is not being considered. A source close to Darnold believed the Seahawks "dodged a bullet," with injury appearing to be hip strain or contusion rather than labral tear. Research on NFL hip injuries shows 79-93% return rates with 6-7 month recovery for severe cases, but Darnold's frame suggests a milder injury (per Seahawks Get Sam Darnold Injury Update From NFL Insider After Patriots Game - Yahoo Sports, NFL news, live updates: Sam Darnold expected to miss Week 2, while A.J. Brown's timeline to return uncertain; Josh Jacobs pleads no contest - Yahoo Sports, and Seahawks: Sam Darnold has 'very unique' soft-tissue injury, no firm timeline for return).

Recent News

• 2026-10-16 — Broncos' offense goes nowhere after halftime but wins in OT after Seahawks' Sam... (Broncos' offense goes nowhere after halftime but wins in OT after Seahawks' Sam...)
• 2026-10-16 — Seahawks vs. Broncos live updates, inactives, where to watch: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sam... (Seahawks vs. Broncos live updates, inactives, where to watch: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sam...)
• 2026-10-11 — Dre Greenlaw hits Sam Darnold along Seahawks bench, then chaos and ejection follow... (Dre Greenlaw hits Sam Darnold along Seahawks bench, then chaos and ejection follow...)
• 2026-09-16 — 2026 NFL Week 2 injury panic meter: Myles Garrett, A.J. Brown, Sam Darnold sidelined... (2026 NFL Week 2 injury panic meter: Myles Garrett, A.J. Brown, Sam Darnold sidelined...)
• 2026-03-13 — 3 reasons the Kyler Murray era will be better than the Sam Darnold era for the Vikings (3 reasons the Kyler Murray era will be better than the Sam Darnold era for the Vikings)
• 2026-09-26 — Fantasy football Week 3 inactives: Caleb Williams out, Puka Nacua uncertain, Sam... (Fantasy football Week 3 inactives: Caleb Williams out, Puka Nacua uncertain, Sam...)
• 2026-09-26 — NFL injury report for Week 3: Updates on Caleb Williams, Puka Nacua, Sam Darnold, Nick... (NFL injury report for Week 3: Updates on Caleb Williams, Puka Nacua, Sam Darnold, Nick...)
• 2026-09-26 — NFL injury tracker Week 3: Latest news, fantasy implications as Sam Darnold (glute)... (NFL injury tracker Week 3: Latest news, fantasy implications as Sam Darnold (glute)...)
• 2026-09-26 — NFL injury report for Week 3: Updates on Puka Nacua, Sam Darnold, Nick Bosa, Joey... (NFL injury report for Week 3: Updates on Puka Nacua, Sam Darnold, Nick Bosa, Joey...)
• 2026-09-20 — What Happened to Sam Darnold? Latest Update on the Seahawks Star’s Injury and Why He’s... (What Happened to Sam Darnold? Latest Update on the Seahawks Star’s Injury and Why He’s...)

Open Questions

• Will the Seahawks’ 4-week return window for Sam Darnold hold, or could he return sooner from the soft-tissue glute injury? Source: NFL Week 2 injury report: Lions down two starting offensive lineman vs. Bills,... Status: open Last touched: 2026-09-16