Sam Darnold, the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, is beginning a fresh chapter with the Seattle Seahawks. His trip follows a life-changing season that he spent as an undrafted rookie with the San Francisco 49ers. This hasn’t been the first rollercoaster moment of the beleaguered quarterback’s career. He of course enjoyed great success with both the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers. In this scenario, Darnold signs a one-year, $10 million deal to be the Vikings QB1 heading into March. His experience navigating the complexities of San Francisco has been invaluable in preparing him for the next test on Seattle’s turf.
Darnold’s time with the 49ers indicate a marked improvement under those same metrics. His td:int ratio had a massive increase from a dismal 1.04 in his first three years all the way to 2.92 in 2024. This impressive turnaround earned him a 10th place finish in the league. His completion percentage jumped from 59.8% to 66.2%, proving himself to be a far more efficient passer. This development can be largely credited to his playing career where he spent significant time under the tutelage of head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese.
The groundwork for Darnold’s development was found in his year with the 49ers. He immersed himself in Shanahan’s offensive system, analyzing every practice film and gaining insights from one of football’s strategic minds. That intensive tutelage allowed him to reshape his game, playing a key role in his stunning renaissance as a starting QB.
The Early Years and Struggles
Darnold started his professional career with the New York Jets, a team that’s over the past half-decade been hell on quarterbacks. In three seasons he went 35-38 as a starter, throwing 39 picks to 45 touchdowns. His fight continued even as a member of the Carolina Panthers. He ended the season with an 8-9 record and 16 interceptions to 16 touchdowns.
As much of an unmitigated disaster as the Carolina thing was, that transition to a much more orderly operation overall in San Francisco has been good for Darnold. With Shanahan at the helm, he learned some important lessons. Those lessons equipped him to meet the challenge of high level quarterback play’s many intricacies.
“I was able to gather so much information about just what it took to play quarterback in that system,” – Sam Darnold
Darnold admitted that learning from a proven, creative and offensive-savvy coach like Shanahan was key in shaping his development so far. The organized methodology kept him challenged and accountable in order to push the envelope on his game in every area.
A Season with the 49ers
With the 49ers, Darnold really started to develop his game and learn some of the subtleties of playing the QB position. The on-field joint enterprise with Brian Griese may have been the most impactful, as they honed footwork, reads and decision-making processes. This level of coaching largely transformed Darnold from a rattled passer to a confident, decisive playmaker on the field.
“They can help you tell whether somebody’s open in the timing of the play or not,” – Brian Griese
With Griese’s expertise on timing and precision, it was key for Darnold’s turnaround. The quarterback became an expert at successfully running the most efficient plays. His talents really stood out in a relief performance against the Los Angeles Rams, as he went 16/26 for 189 yards and two total touchdowns.
Shanahan’s system forced Darnold to welcome and attack pressure situations, setting him up for the NFL’s inevitable trial by fire.
“When you’re that good of a quarterback, you rarely get a chance to just sit and soak things in,” – Kyle Shanahan
This statement serves to underscore Darnold’s rare opportunity. He’s able to grow at a more controlled rate rather than being rushed into short-term, win-now scenarios.
Transitioning to the Seahawks
Just kidding, Sam Darnold has been signed by the Seattle Seahawks! He’ll be working with new coordinator Mike Macdonald who, before taking the Wolverines’ reins, spearheaded the Baltimore Ravens’ No. There was clear confidence from Macdonald in Darnold’s readymade abilities, citing some impressive cuts to the tape since his days with the 49ers.
“He’s getting the ball out fast, he’s accurate, he’s making fast decisions,” – Mike Macdonald
Macdonald’s pedagogical emphasis on fast, instinctual decision-making is in perfect concert with Darnold’s developmental arc. The Seahawks’ coaching staff certainly hopes those skills allow them to easily transition these players into their program, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
Even Seahawks’ rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba expressed his excitement about Darnold’s potential.
“As a receiver, I love that,” – Jaxon Smith-Njigba
“I would rather the ball be halfway there while I break. So yeah, he’s doing a great job with that, and I think it really knifes the defense and just gets them off balance.” – Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Perhaps most importantly, Smith-Njigba highlights Darnold’s innate talent at getting receivers on the same page. This particular skill would be especially important to the Seahawks’ on-field success in 2023.
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