Sam Darnold Receives One Final Kevin O’Connell Endorsement
Kevin O’Connell had some final parting words for former Vikings QB Sam Darnold, now with the Seattle Seahawks, at the annual NFL league meeting.
I think he’s a guy that’s smart, has command of the system, athletically gifted, but most importantly can make every throw, can touch every blade of grass you need him to, both in and out of the pocket as the Seahawks kind of learned a year ago, playing us.
O’Connell never hid his admiration and appreciation of Darnold, and it means more when the fourth-year head coach is no longer obligated to speak highly of him. O’Connell referenced the Vikings’ December 22nd victory over the Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, a game he claims that Sam Darnold “basically willed the team to win that game, and he’s got that in him.”
The big play that Darnold made in that game, of course, was one of the better throws in Vikings regular season history:
Darnold signed a team-friendly deal with the Seahawks after the team traded away multi-year starter Geno Smith because they failed to come to terms on a new contract. Sam Darnold’s deal with Seattle is a 3-year/$100.5 million agreement that, from his perspective, rewards Darnold for his excellent 2024 season with the Vikings and, from the Seahawks perspective, gives them an out if it’s immediately evident that the QB isn’t going to work out in the Pacific Northwest.
I think what I’m most proud of with where Sam is at in his quarterback journey now is I think he is as close to where he belongs, as far as people view him in this league. At the same time, I think he’s got enough experience now that he can really play the position that ‘above the neck’ mentality and make the other 10 guys in the huddle better. There’s a lot of really good things Sam’s going to bring to the Seahawks.
Sam Darnold had the best season of his professional career by a mile last season (as we all know), throwing 35 TDs (tied with Kirk Cousins for 2nd-most in franchise history), 4,319 yards (3rd-most in franchise history), and a 102.5 passer rating (8th-highest in franchise history).
He will be joining forces in Seattle with second-year head coach Mike Macdonald, who led the Seahawks to a 10-7 record, narrowly missing the playoffs in his first year with the headset in 2024. Darnold will be surrounded by solid playmakers when under center for Seattle.
The team drafted Ohio State standout Jaxson Smith-Njigba in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, who had a great second year of development, eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards in 2024 and hauling in 6 TDs.
Another big-time offseason acquisition for the Seahawks was WR Cooper Kupp, a Washington State native. The Seahawks offense also deploys a good RB duo in Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet.
Here’s a best of luck and a “SKOL” to Sam Darnold, who gave us one of the most fun seasons in recent Vikings history.
