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Sam Darnold news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Sam Darnold leads Seahawks into season opener vs Patriots. His mental-game work and new offense face a huge test.
Background
Sam Darnold, once a punchline after stints with the Jets and Panthers, revived his career with the Vikings in 2024, leading to a big payday with the Seahawks. He's now the starter for a team coming off a Super Bowl win, but questions remain about whether he can sustain his success without his former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026In a preseason game, Darnold threw a pick-six to Alontae Taylor, and the run game struggled, raising concerns about the new offense.
- Sep 6, 2026Darnold held a press conference, discussing the team's standard of play and his mental approach.
- Sep 8, 2026Seahawks.com published a piece saying Darnold will be 'the same, in a good way,' in 2026, while other outlets speculated he might regress without Kubiak.
- Sep 9, 2026Sports Illustrated published a feature on Darnold's new world, noting he's no longer a journeyman, and the Tacoma News Tribune highlighted his mental-game work.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- Seahawks.com and some analysts believe Darnold's mental-game improvements will keep him consistent and successful.
- Caution
- Some analysts, like Craig Horlbeck, question whether Darnold will 'turn back into a pumpkin' without Kubiak, his former coordinator.
Still unverified
The claim that Darnold's success is dependent on Kubiak is speculative and not confirmed.