Quarterback Sam Darnold vindicated the Seattle Seahawks’ decision to take a chance on him by leading coach Mike Macdonald’s team to a Super Bowl-winning campaign in his first season under center. Darnold previously started for the Minnesota Vikings for one season before joining the Seahawks and establishing himself as one of the league’s best QBs.
Sam Darnold Addresses Vikings Departure Decision
During Tuesday’s segment of the “Bussin With the Boys” podcast, Darnold revealed why he left Minnesota for Seattle after just one season despite his fondness for the Vikings.
“For me, Minnesota was amazing,” Darnold said. “But for me, having success in a place and getting to know the guys in the locker room, of course, you wanna make that work. But, like, shortly in the negotiations, I was like, ‘This isn’t gonna be the spot.'”
Will Compton then asked Darnold whether the Vikings offered a “low one-year [deal] or something,” to which the 29-year-old answered, “yeah, that’s exactly right.”
“I’m not one of those guys where I’m like spiteful,” he added. “I get where the GM was coming from. I totally do… I get that part of it… So, for me, it was kind of, I had to put that hat on where it’s like I understand, I totally get where they’re coming from, and going back to the beginning, everything happens for a reason.”
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“There is a part of that too where it’s like okay, I’m just, ‘I’m not supposed to be in Minnesota this next year.’ And that’s okay with me, and to be able to get my mind set to be like, ‘Ok. Where am I going next?’ And to have an open mind with that conversation for myself,” Darnold added.
Darnold signed a one-year contract with the Vikings in 2024 after spending a season as quarterback Brock Purdy’s backup in the San Francisco 49ers’ run to Super Bowl LVIII. He served as the Vikings’ starter under center after rookie J.J. McCarthy sustained a season-ending injury during training camp.
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After leaving Minnesota, Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seahawks and will likely command one of the league’s top-tier salaries during his next contract negotiations.
On Friday’s “Bump & Stacy” show, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell pointed to Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s contract talks as a reference point for Darnold’s next contract negotiations with the Seahawks.
“If you’re Sam Darnold’s agent, you’re looking at that negotiation very closely and saying, ‘Hey, if Baker Mayfield gets maybe $50 million per year, well gosh, Sam Darnold’s won a Super Bowl,‘” Barnwell said. “At the end of the day, I don’t think the Seahawks are naive to that reality. This is a good problem to have.”
In 2025, Darnold tallied 4,048 passing yards on 67.7% completion, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions for the Seahawks during the regular season, earning a PFSN QB Impact score of 78.5. He was even more imperious in the postseason, throwing for 672 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions, while completing 61.5% of his throws.
