PALM BEACH, Fla.—While Sam Darnold is no longer with the Minnesota Vikings, his former head coach, Kevin O'Connell had nothing but good things to say about the quarterback at the NFL Annual Meeting.
Coming off of the best season of his career, Darnold seems set to have another good season with offensive weapons like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell pointed to Darnold's athletic ability, along with his intelligence and leadership as some of Darnold's strengths.
"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."
And while it may be a sore spot for Seahawks fans, O'Connell pointed to the Seahawks 27-24 loss to the Vikings, where Darnold led a game winning touchdown drive, as a key example of what exactly Darnold is capable of.
"Sam basically willed the team to win that game and he's got that in him," O'Connell said.
During Darnold's introductory press conference, head coach Mike Macdonald was asked about that game and said, "It was a heck of a battle. It was a knock-down drag out fight to the end, and to Sam's credit, they kept battling and found a way to win in the end. A lot of respect for, obviously, what he did in the game."
Darnold threw for 4,319 yards last season and 35 touchdowns with the Vikings.
At the NFL Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Macdonald said the team liked Darnold because, "They love the leader, the teammate. The film speaks for itself with his accuracy, he's able to push the ball down the field. Particularly with us, we're going to move the pocket a good bit now, Sam's a great thrower on the run, he's able to make a lot of plays that way. Then on critical down in the red zone and third downs, especially last year, he had such a great year, and we're going to count on him to come through in those situations."
O'Connell noted Darnold's growth throughout his journey as quarterback, which now spans five NFL teams in what will be eight seasons this year.
"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."
And Darnold will be joining a locker room where there's already veteran players, but O'Connell has no doubt that Darnold will be able to go into the Seahawks locker room and settle in as one of Seattle's leaders.
"I think it's not easy to come to a team with some established leaders, leadership like we have in Minnesota and be almost unanimously voted a captain, which he was. So I think Sam is going to walk in the door authentic, he's going to be himself and I think players gravitate towards that. Seattle's going to be really happy with Sam."
Check out photos of the newest members of the Seahawks as they tour the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for the first time.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold, offensive lineman Josh Jones and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Offensive lineman Josh Jones signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Offensive lineman Josh Jones signed with the Seahawks on March 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks on March 18, 2025.
Tight end Eric Saubert signed with the Seahawks on March 24, 2025.
