New Seahawks QB Sam Darnold credits former 49ers teammate for ‘unlocking’ his true potential

Sam Darnold's stay with 49ers was brief, but he learned during his time with QB Brock Purdy that helped him get a new perspective about being a starting quarterback in the NFL.

New Seahawks QB Sam Darnold credits former 49ers teammate for ‘unlocking’ his true potential

Sam Darnold (Image via IMAGO)

Not everyone gets a second chance in the NFL. When Sam Darnold was handed his at Minnesota, he grabbed it with both hands, which led him to sign a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seahawks. Yet, his short stint in San Francisco helped him realize how to play the quarterback position better.

Darnold joined the 49ers in 2023 as the backup to Brock Purdy after Jimmy Garoppolo left to sign with the Raiders. Darnold only made one start, but training with Purdy, the 27-year-old found a new perspective on being a quarterback in the NFL.

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My job is to be the point guard and get the playmakers the ball. That’s where it unlocked for me.

Sam Darnold credited Purdy during his introductory press conference as the new Seahawks quarterback

Purdy led the Niners to the Super Bowl that year, only to lose against the Chiefs. He led the league in yards per throw (9.6) and passer rating (113.0). Pro Football Focus rated Purdy’s passing grade (83.6) and big-time throw rate (5.8%). Purdy finished 107-of-161 for 2,469 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions while attempting 10+ yards.

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It’s not every day a third overall pick admits learning from the last pick of the draft. Yet, Purdy definitely influenced Darnold, which was reflected in his performance with the Vikings—he completed 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, earning the massive pay with the Seahawks.

The Seahawks signed Darnold to fill the void left by Geno Smith, who signed with the Raiders and linked up with former head coach Pete Carroll. Darnold is expected to be the starter in week one, but he has to fend off Sam Howell during camp to guarantee his position as QB1.

Sam Darnold earned much praise from 49ers head coach for being a true professional

The 49ers picked up Darnold after losing the QB battle at the Carolina Panthers to Baker Mayfield. He spent the year in San Fran before leaving for the Vikings.

New Seahawks QB Sam Darnold credits former 49ers teammate for 'unlocking' his true potential
Sam Darnold (Image via IMAGO)

Head coach Kyle Shanahan had nothing but positives to say about the USC graduate.

Loved having Sam here, he was an awesome guy. He’s been that way everywhere he’s been. And we found it out personally here. But always liked Sam before he got here… such a good athlete, so tough, can make any throw. And I really enjoyed working with him. I thought he got better throughout the year.

Kyle Shanahan told Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated

Sam Darnold has a daunting task of proving doubters wrong

While analysts such as Colin Cowherd showered massive praise on the Seahawks for signing Darnold, a section of the NFL media didn’t view it favorably. Smith was a fan favorite in Seattle, turning his career around after struggling for large portions of it.

Darnold coming from a system run by Kevin O’Connell that favored the quarterback’s strengths to a system of defensive-minded Brian Callahan is a massive change of scenery even though his offensive coordinator is former 49er passing games coordinator Klint Kubiak. ESPN’s Ben Solak believes going from Smith to Darnold is a big downgrade.

That is why this move is universally panned. It makes sense only if an observer is willing to entertain the likelihood that Darnold is substantially better than Smith, and every observer—national NFL analyst, Seahawks fan, and anyone in between—has an abundance of evidence that he is not.

Ben Solak wrote

Despite the negative attitude surrounding the deal, Darnold remains optimistic about his first year in Seattle.

I think we have an opportunity to do something very, very special here, but it’s going to take a lot of hard work—and we know that going in… I’m going to put my head down and go to work.

Sam Darnold said

Darnold has to win without the likes of Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, who are no longer with the team. There are still quality free agent receivers available for grabs. Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, and Cooper Kupp are the players currently on the radar of the Seahawks.

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