Sam Darnold Admits Seahawks’ Turning Point Came in Defeat to the Rams

There’s always that one game that kind of sets the tone for the entire season. For Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks, the week eleven loss to the Los Angeles Rams turned out to be the turning point of their campaign.

Speaking on the Green Light podcast with Kyle Long, Darnold credited the defeat against the Rams with making him and his teammates believe that they have the strength to win the Super Bowl. Sam Darnold said:

I threw like four interceptions. There was no reason for us to really be in that game, that was a game where the defense kind of kept us in it… We still had an opportunity to win the game. I think for me, you want to talk about like, painting the house, you know, using the brush to paint the house… Dude, I just turned the ball over four or five times, and we still have a chance to win this game. So, there’s a lot of optimism that goes on in there.

Sam Darnold says he knew the Seahawks were for real after they LOST to the Rams.

“I just turned the ball over four or five times and we still had a chance to win the game. There’s a lot of optimism that goes on there.”

The Seahawks haven’t lost a game since.

Via @greenlight pic.twitter.com/RtU1D5uh8L

— SleeperSeahawks (@SleeperSeahawks) May 29, 2026

Darnold threw four interceptions in the season’s first divisional rivalry game between the two NFC hopefuls. He has Jason Myers to thank for keeping the Seahawks in the fixture by converting four out of five field goals.

Running back Kenneth Walker scored Seattle’s only touchdown with fewer than three minutes until the full-time whistle. The Rams won 21-19. Darnold completed 29 passes from 44 attempts for 279 yards, zero touchdowns, and four INTs. Walker had 67 yards and a score on 16 carries. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught 9 passes on 12 targets for 105 yards, while tight end AJ Barner registered 70 yards on 10 receptions.

Statistically, it was Darnold’s worst game in a Seattle shirt. In the week 16’s reverse fixture, Darnold struggled once again, conceding a couple of picks and taking four sacks. But at the same time, he threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns. He also helped both Walker and Zach Charbonnet score one rushing TD each. Seattle won the game after JSN scored a four-yard touchdown in overtime.

NFL insider gives a troubling update about Sam Darnold’s contract situation

Darnold signed with the Seahawks after the Minnesota Vikings turned down the chance to extend his stay beyond the 2024 season. Seattle general manager John Schneider struck a three-year, $100.5 million deal with Darnold. But it’s truly a one-year deal, and the Seahawks had the leverage to cut the 28-year-old if he failed to make a positive impact on the offense.

He helped Seattle win its second-ever Super Bowl—registered a 14-3 regular season record—completed 323 passes for 4048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 INTs. In the postseason, Darnold threw for 672 yards and 5 touchdowns with a passer rating of 102.4.

Darnold has earned a new extension. But NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah believes he will not be getting one anytime soon. Jeremiah told Brock and Salk on Seattle Sports Radio:

I think he’s heading in that direction. If [the Seahawks are] going to stick to their guns on their policy and he comes out and has a year that approaches what he did last year, I would say he’s going to land in that ballpark.

Darnold, a former third overall draft pick, became a journeyman just four years into his NFL career. Following his departure from the New York Jets, Darnold spent a couple of seasons with the Carolina Panthers before backing up Brock Purdy at the San Francisco 49ers and appearing in his first Super Bowl.

Ahead of the 2024 season, he signed with the Vikings to compete with JJ McCarthy. McCarthy picked up a season-ending injury, opening the door for Darnold to start, and he led the Vikings to a 14-3 finish. One year later, he won his first ring with the Seahawks.

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