Seahawks Considering Early Contract Extension for QB Sam Darnold After Super Bowl Win

Seahawks GM John Schneider may break from his usual contract extension policy to reward Darnold's breakout season.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The Seattle Seahawks are reportedly considering giving quarterback Sam Darnold an early contract extension this offseason, just one year into his current three-year, $100.5 million deal. Darnold's strong 2025 season, which included a Super Bowl appearance, has him outperforming his current contract, and a championship win could prompt the Seahawks to lock him up long-term despite Schneider's typical hesitance to do early extensions.

Why it matters

This would be an unusual move for the Seahawks, who have generally avoided giving early contract extensions under GM John Schneider. However, Darnold's play has made him one of the league's biggest bargains, and the team may not want to risk losing him or creating tension by making him wait until the final year of his deal to negotiate a new contract.

The details

Darnold ranked 5th in the NFL in passing yards, 2nd in yards per pass attempt, 9th in passing touchdowns, and 9th in passer rating in 2025, leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl appearance despite the team spending the least on offense. His current contract makes him one of the cheapest veteran starting QBs in the league, behind only a few players. Sources believe a Super Bowl win could prompt the Seahawks to extend Darnold this offseason, rather than waiting until the final year of his deal.

  • Darnold signed a 3-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seahawks prior to the 2025 season.
  • Darnold is set to start in Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026.

The players

Sam Darnold

The Seahawks' starting quarterback, who had a breakout 2025 season and led the team to the Super Bowl.

John Schneider

The general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, known for his reluctance to give early contract extensions.

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What they’re saying

“Winning a Super Bowl would have to make a man reconsider his philosophy, right? Particularly when the quarterback that drove you to that win would be sitting on a contract that ranks 18th in average annual value for quarterbacks, behind Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith, and Kyler Murray.”

— Jonathan Jones (SI.com)

What’s next

The Seahawks will decide whether to give Sam Darnold an early contract extension after the Super Bowl, which would be an unusual move for GM John Schneider.

The takeaway

The Seahawks face a difficult decision on whether to reward Sam Darnold's breakout season with an early contract extension, which would go against their typical approach under GM John Schneider. However, Darnold's play has made him one of the league's biggest bargains, and the team may not want to risk losing him or creating tension by making him wait until the final year of his deal to negotiate a new contract.