Sam Darnold's Clear Message on NFL Career Before Super Bowl LX

Sam Darnold is not looking back as he prepares for the biggest game of his career. The Seahawks quarterback has embraced every step of his NFL path. Ahead of 2026 Super Bowl, Darnold made it clear that his story is still being written.

Darnold played his best football when it mattered most. In the NFC Divisional Playoffs, he carved up the Rams for 346 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. He followed that with a calm, controlled performance in the NFC Championship Game. Seattle leaned on defense and balance, and Darnold delivered exactly what the moment required.

During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Darnold spoke openly about his career. He explained that early struggles no longer define him.

“I think just being able to handle it at this point in my career, too,” Darnold said. “It’s – I feel like even mentally. I feel like I handle it a little bit differently internally than I used to, you know, because I realized like it is a part of the journey and it is a part of who I am.”

The NFL journey has taken Darnold across the league. He was drafted third overall by the New York Jets in 2018 before being traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021. After stops with the 49ers and Vikings, he landed in Seattle on a three-year, $100.5 million deal. That move changed everything for him.

“Just being able to move on and to learn from those experiences,” but move on and,” Darnold said. “You know, the days in New York, the days in Carolina, like those were, those are part of my journey, and they’re part of my experience, and I loved every single part of it. Like, yeah, there were some lows that sucked. I’m not going to lie to you… that’s part of it though.”

Darnold added that mistakes happen, but learning and moving on are what matter most.

“I think like I gave it a little more thought than I had to,” Darnold said about his thinking in the past. “Like, I paid a little bit more attention to it, and I guess I invested a little more thought into kind of what happened in the past, and I tried to – Okay, like I threw this pick against this coverage, you know, back in 2019, like, I’m not going to do that again.

“It’s like, no, sometimes mistakes happen, and you learn from it, and it’s – you don’t want to make the same mistakes again, but sometimes throughout your career, especially if it’s a long career, like those things are going to happen.

Darnold is now looking at the positives about his life and his journey.

“It’s funny, like after every single game we lost or things that didn’t go well, like I was able to wake up the next day and see the sunrise and go into the building and see my teammates and have fun with my coaches,” Darnold said. “That’s a part of life.

“I think being able to realize that at this point in my career, like it allows you to kind of take it one day at a time and enjoy every single little moment that you get with, with your teammates, because as we all say, like we’re, we’re never with the same team, you know, year in, year out… there’s never all 70 that are the same throughout a season.”

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) hugs offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak at Lumen Field.Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

(Steven Bisig-Imagn Images)

This season, Darnold threw for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns. His accuracy improved, his confidence grew, and his poise stood out. He guided the Seahawks to a 14–3 record and the top seed in the NFC. Seattle ranked first in points allowed and third in scoring, making it one of the league’s most complete teams.

Now, Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots in the 2026 Super Bowl on Feb. 8. For Darnold, the message is simple. His past shaped him, but the present defines him.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Sam Darnold’s Clear Message on NFL Career Before Super Bowl LX

Tags: