The Seattle Seahawks haven’t been at their best so far this season, and, ultimately, ambitions of reaching the NFC playoffs could already be under fire after just eight games.
A lot of this hinges on the quarterback role, where they have been lacking quality.
On Monday, they were defeated 34-17 by the Chicago Bears. One of the most striking issues within the lacklustre, almost uninspiring performance, was the fact that they couldn't get going in any of the three phases of the game. This certainly is far from their usual standards.
The sudden decline has been surprising, and quarterback Sam Darnold, ranked among the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now, has faced some scrutiny for his lack of consistency, something which may be holding the Seahawks back. They have strong defensive and offensive talent, but is the final piece of the puzzle missing?
Seahawks Struggle with Sam Darnold at the Centre
Sam Darnold at Super Bowl LX
Prior to the damaging Monday night defeat, the Seahawks had a decent record of 21-6 since the start of last season. They also hadn't been beaten by more than four points since December 2024; another factor emphasising why this loss almost came from nowhere.
Speaking after the game, former Seahawks QB Russell Wilson commented on Darnold's form since returning from injury, saying: "Sam Darnold’s not comfortable out there, and he doesn’t look all the way healthy. He’s banged up. He’s kind of getting up and battling through it every time. I think what we have to do in Seattle, in particular, is get healthy again."
He also went on to add that he needs to get back to that unbreakable mentality, and perhaps take away all this pressure, by getting back to the basics.
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"We have to get his mindset back to feeling like he’s ripping it and going, getting some easy completions along the way, and just moving the ball down the field."
With these struggles, one name has been floated around as a potential replacement. It would be a major change, and one with just the ambition that the Seahawks may need.
Quarterback Change Called For
Joe Nicholson via Reuters
The Bears defeat wasn't only damaging for the reasons already mentioned, but it also marked the Seahawks' fourth defeat already of 2026, one more than the entirety of last year, though a Supercomputer has backed them to return to winning ways in Week 9. Of course, it's tough to continue these highs, especially after they came out victorious in Super Bowl LX. However, this ostensibly quick fall-off is far from their standards.
Due to this, talkSPORT's US senior reporter, Brian T. Smith, has called for a huge change. One that would see Lamar Jackson switch to the Seahawks.
A Radar Chart Depicting Darnold vs Jackson 2025 Season Including Darnold and Jackson
Jackson is facing his own contract uncertainty in Baltimore, and Smith is calling for the Seattle-based side to strike while the iron's hot and capitalise on this opening.
He said: "Lamar Jackson should get out of Baltimore if he wants to win a Super Bowl. A couple of very interesting teams to me that you should watch moving forward — think about Lamar Jackson with the Denver Broncos, think about Lamar Jackson with the Seattle Seahawks, with the Minnesota Vikings."
Mark Konezny via Reuters
It would be a major move, and the Seahawks crucially have a get-out clause with Darnold. The 29-year-old penned a mega-three year deal worth $105 million, a move that aged very well after the Super Bowl success, even if the win itself left him out of pocket.
However, under the deal's terms, the $35.5m from next year isn't guaranteed, therefore, it could see them make a quick swoop for Jackson, or somebody else, especially if the form doesn't pick up.
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