Sam Darnold’s NFL story is often reduced to two extremes. There is the rocky opening in New York, where three seasons with the Jets painted him as another high draft pick headed for obscurity.
Then there is the present, where he has the Seattle Seahawks at 12-3, firmly positioned for a playoff bye and very much alive in the race for the NFC’s No. 1 seed with two games left.
What gets overlooked is the stretch in between. The trades, the benchings, the seasons spent fighting for relevance rather than headlines. That middle chapter, particularly his time in Carolina, quietly laid the groundwork for what is happening now.
Seattle’s upcoming trip to face the Panthers brings that period back into focus. Darnold acknowledged this week that those years mattered, even if the results were uneven.
“For me it was just another experience that has kind of paved the way for who I am and kind of what I've become,” he said.
The stakes surrounding that return are complex and multifaceted. The Seahawks can strengthen their grip on home-field advantage and could even secure the NFC West if the Rams and 49ers stumble.
Carolina, meanwhile, is chasing its first playoff appearance since 2017 and can clinch the NFC South with a win and a Tampa Bay loss in Miami.
There is also personal significance for Darnold. He is within reach of $2 million in performance bonuses, according to Over The Cap.
Over the final two games, he needs roughly 300 passing yards, four touchdown passes, a small bump in completion rate, and to keep his passer rating at or above 100.0. Each benchmark is worth $500,000.
A win this week or in Week 18 would place Darnold in rare historical company. Only Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Brett Favre have guided teams to 13 wins in back-to-back seasons. Darnold could become the first to do it with two different franchises after leading Minnesota to a 13-4 mark last year.
How Carolina shaped the quarterback Seattle is relying on now
Carolina was never supposed to be a detour. When the Panthers sent three draft picks to the Jets before the 2021 season, the idea was that Darnold could reboot his career as a full-time starter. Early signs were encouraging.
Carolina opened 3-0, and he topped 300 passing yards in three of his first four starts. The momentum did not last. Over the next six games, the Panthers went 1-5, Darnold threw two touchdowns against eight interceptions, and a fractured shoulder blade ended his season early. Carolina finished 5-12.
The following year brought more uncertainty. Baker Mayfield arrived, injuries piled up, and Darnold did not see the field until Week 12. When he finally played, the results were steadier.
The Panthers won four of their final six games, including a victory over Seattle, and Darnold accounted for nine total touchdowns during that stretch. Reflecting on that period, he said,
“That second year battled through an injury throughout the first half of the season. Then came out on the other side and was able to play some pretty good football toward the end of that season.”
That closing run carried forward. After a year in San Francisco, Darnold landed in Minnesota and produced 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading the Vikings to a 14-2 record.
Seattle followed, pairing him with Klint Kubiak in a system rooted in the same offensive philosophy. Kubiak said the growth has been mental as much as physical, noting Darnold’s comfort and command.
Now sixth in the league with 3,703 passing yards, along with 24 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 100.6 passer rating, Darnold is no longer defined by his early struggles.