Seahawks Believe Sam Darnold Can Take Next Step in 2026

GM John Schneider expects the QB to build on his Super Bowl-winning season.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:38pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football quarterback in motion, with the player's form broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, lime green, and silver, capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.The Seahawks' faith in Sam Darnold's continued growth reflects their belief that he can lead the team to sustained success.Seattle Today

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider believes quarterback Sam Darnold can take his game to an even higher level in the 2026 season. Schneider cited Darnold's growing chemistry with his receivers and the team's talented tight end group as reasons why the 28-year-old signal-caller could be even better after leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship in 2025.

Why it matters

The Seahawks are banking on Darnold to continue his upward trajectory and solidify himself as the team's long-term answer at quarterback. After bouncing around early in his career, Darnold appears to have found a permanent home in Seattle, and the organization is confident he can build on his Super Bowl-winning season.

The details

In a recent interview, Schneider said Darnold will be "that much more comfortable" heading into 2026 after a full season with the team. The GM highlighted Darnold's improved chemistry with wide receivers Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, as well as the team's talented tight end group, as reasons why the quarterback can take another step forward.

  • Darnold led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship in the 2025 season.
  • In 2025, Darnold set career-highs in completion percentage (67.7%) and passing yards (4,000+).

The players

John Schneider

The general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, who believes quarterback Sam Darnold can take his game to an even higher level in 2026.

Sam Darnold

The 28-year-old quarterback who led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship in the 2025 season and is expected to continue his upward trajectory in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“He's going to be that much more comfortable from being around his team. Just his relationship with Coop and Rashid. Like, Rashid came in during the season, so that takes a minute to build chemistry. He gets another year with Jax (Smith-Njigba), and we have a really cool tight end group — [Elijah] Arroyo and [A.J.] Barner did a great job.”

— John Schneider, General Manager, Seattle Seahawks

“He can play even better.”

— John Schneider, General Manager, Seattle Seahawks

What’s next

The Seahawks will look to Darnold to lead the team back to the Super Bowl in the 2026 season as they aim to defend their championship.

The takeaway

The Seahawks' belief in Darnold's continued growth and development suggests they see him as their long-term answer at quarterback, solidifying his status as the team's franchise signal-caller after a successful first season in Seattle.