Is the Current Seahawks Quarterback Worthy of Elite Status?
The Seattle Seahawks have gone through their fair share of quarterbacks over the course of their history. There have been long-tenured quarterbacks, but there have also been some who have moved around the league as well. So far, Sam Darnold is among the latter, bouncing between multiple teams over the course of his career. This season, he has been part of the foundation that has made the Seahawks successful, so let's examine what makes him such an elite player.
In terms of stats, Darnold has 2,833 passing attempts, 1,766 completed passes with a 62.3 completion percentage overall. At the conclusion of the 2025 regular season, the 28-year-old quarterback also holds 20,431 passing yards with a passer rating of 86.5, 1,067 rushing yards, and 14 total rushing touchdowns. He was drafted by the New York Jets in 2018 and had mixed results for some time. However, Darnold reached a turning point in his career, having made the Pro Bowl twice, once with the Minnesota Vikings last season and again this year as a Seahawk. His college accolades include an All-Pac-12 honor back in 2017, an Archie Griffin Award, and the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Award, which Darndold received in 2016. These came before the now 28-year-old quarterback really started to forge his stardom as an NFL player. However, they did push him on the path that would lead to his career being filled with game-winning drives, efficiency on the field, and an all-around heavy X factor player for the Seahawks.
Being in the Pro Bowl back-to-back years is a very special accomplishment for any NFL player, not just Darnold. I believe his career stats are what make him stand out from the rest. This energy and passion he has as a player could help lead the team to the Super Bowl this season, depending on the results of the upcoming playoff game this weekend. In my opinion, Darnold does have the trajectory to be a Hall of Famer, just like his fellow teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba, despite a rocky start to his career when he was with the Jets. However, with a recent oblique injury for the 28-year-old quarterback, the chances of him being able to play for the remainder of the playoffs are slightly less guaranteed.
