In December, Sam Darnold was leading the Vikings offense on a game-winning drive over the Seahawks at Lumen Field.
But things can change quickly in the NFL, and in less than three months, Darnold was sitting next to his new head coach, Mike Macdonald, being introduced as the Seahawks' new quarterback.
The Seahawks signed Darnold, who earned Pro-Bowl honors while leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record last season, this week after making the decision to trade quarterback Geno Smith, creating an opening at the game's most important position.
"This is exciting times. It's been a whirlwind couple weeks here, as you guys have well documented," Macdonald said. "… Obviously gone against him in my career and here last year at Lumen (Field) against the Vikings. First of all, he's just a tremendous human being. A great leader. We have a lot of people in our building that have a history with Sam that have a lot of respect for him as a person, as a leader, as a football player. I'm really excited to get our relationship started and getting to introduce himself to the rest of the team and the city and the 12s. I think we are going to be really proud of our quarterback here. Then, obviously, as a football player and a quarterback, just a heck of a player. Just tough as nails from my opinion. You go through all the talent, we can talk about that until we are blue in the face. But just really excited about what Sam is going to bring to our football team and just an exciting time."
Darnold, who had a career-best year with the Vikings in 2024, knew he'd have options in free agency this year, and once he got word about the Seahawks trading Smith, Darnold saw Seattle as a good fit, not only because he's joining a team coming off a 10-win season, but also because of the familiarity he has with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, having worked with him when the two were with the 49ers in 2023.
"First and foremost, I'm excited to be here," Darnold said. "Excited to get to know this organization… Excited to meet my teammates. I've met a couple of the new ones already. You know, D-Law (DeMarcus Lawrence), Josh (Jones), just very, very excited to get to meet everyone. And just about this organization. I've heard so many good things about this organization from different guys that have played here, retired, and still playing in the league. You hear nothing but great things about this organization, and man, I'm just so excited to be a part of it. Excited to meet some of the fans, the 12s. Playing here, I think I've played here a total of three times, actually played twice. I was a backup in San Francisco working with Klint (Kubiak) here, one of those times, and it's an unbelievable atmosphere at Lumen Field.
"I'm so excited to finally have those 12s on my side this time. And yeah, man, just really looking forward to this opportunity to be here with my teammates, with these coaches. I think we have an opportunity to do something very, very special here. But it's going to take a lot of hard work, and we know that. I know that going in. And yeah, just very excited to take this one day at a time and that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to put my head down and go to work, and just excited to do that."
Kubiak, who was the 49ers' passing game coordinator in 2023 while Darnold was the backup to Brock Purdy, sees Darnold as a great fit for the offense he plans to run in Seattle.
"Sam's extremely talented," Kubiak said. "Obviously a great thrower of the football. His mobility sticks out, his toughness, his maturity. The thing about Sam that really sticks out is just he's an A-plus teammate. Elevates those around him. The guys he plays with respect him because when your best players are your hardest workers, that's what you really strive for, and that's what you want as a coach, and Sam has that in spades."
Kubiak also appreciates the way Darnold was able to work hard and have success after an up-and-down start to his career. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Darnold was thrown into a tough situation starting as a rookie with the Jets, and after three years in New York he was traded to Carolina. That was followed by a season in San Francisco before Darnold had his breakout in Minnesota, posting career best numbers while leading his team to the postseason.
"There's 32 (starting quarterback) jobs, right, and then maybe you get selected early, you get a year or two maybe to prove yourself, and then they kick you to the curb," Kubiak said. "Some guys are mentally tough enough to come back and fight through it, and I'm sitting next to one of them. You go back to his 2022 season where he didn't play until the end of the year, the last six games, he goes 4-2 in Carolina and comes to San Francisco and sits behind Brock (Purdy) and keeps growing as a player; and then goes and does what he does in Minnesota. It's really impressive to be that kind of a fighter and to stay in the fight and when you get your chance again, be ready, and Sam was ready, and Sam earned this job here."