Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald isn’t opening the door to a Sam Darnold quarterback controversy.
Talking Tuesday on Seattle Sports activities 710-AM, the second-year coach quelled any hypothesis that the crew’s $100 million acquisition might lose the position of QB1 earlier than the beginning of the season.
“No, you guys are crazy,” Macdonald replied when requested if something besides harm would loosen Darnold’s grip on the job, per ESPN. “I respect that you’ve got to ask it, but it’s just a crazy question. It’s just not going to happen. Sam’s our starting quarterback. We love him. He’s doing a tremendous job.”
Darnold, 27, signed with the Seahawks on a three-year, $100.5 million pact in March following a profession yr with the Vikings.
Macdonald, 37, responded to Tuesday’s query after Seattle took a spin on the Darnold roller-coaster at OTAs this week, when he tossed two interceptions in a short span.
The coach made it clear nobody is hitting the panic button in early June with the season opener three months away.
“God forbid you’re the worst payer of all time because you made one bad throw or one bad decision,” he stated. “That is not what we’re trying to build. We want these guys to go prepare the right way and then when they go out on the practice field, go freaking let it rip and then we’ll go fix it. … We’ve got time. It’s June 3 … They’re going to get plenty of reps. We’ll get those things fixed.”
Darnold is beginning anew within the Pacific Northwest after incomes his first Professional Bowl nod in Minnesota, the place he threw 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions en path to a postseason look.
The NFL journeyman — whose earlier stops included the Jets, Panthers and Niners — got here crashing again all the way down to earth within the playoffs, with the Vikings being routed by the Rams within the wild-card spherical, 27-9.
Darnold tossed a landing and an interception, and was sacked 9 instances.
The Vikings are transferring ahead with final yr’s first-round choose, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed final season as a consequence of a knee harm.
Previous to Darnold’s arrival, the Seahawks moved on from quarterback Geno Smith, buying and selling the man ex-Jet to the Raiders in March after lacking the playoffs following a 10-7 marketing campaign.
Even with the Seahawks all-in on Darnold, they do have a $37.5 million escape hatch within the occasion they wish to get out of the union after a yr.
Seattle additionally has insurance coverage in former backup quarterback Drew Lock, who rejoined the crew in April after a stint with the Giants, and rookie Jalen Milroe, taken within the third spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Alabama.
Darnold and the Seahawks host the Niners of their season opener on Sept. 7.
