Latest news with #SamDarnold
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Seahawks' Sam Darnold Doesn't Hold Back About Brock Purdy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. There is no love between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. The two teams have been rivals in the NFC West and the fan bases do not like each other very much. Just like the fans, the teams bring a little extra to the field when they play. This season, there will be a new quarterback matchup between the two squads. Sam Darnold is the new quarterback for the Seahawks. After starting last season and putting up big numbers with the Minnesota Vikings, Darnold will look to take Seattle back to being a serious contender in the NFC. Brock Purdy, on the other hand, will be looking to turn the 49ers around after a tough 2024 season. Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo byOf course, Darnold played the 2023 season with San Francisco. He was the backup behind Purdy and the two developed a friendship. Read more: 49ers Urged to Pursue New Proven Weapon for Brock Purdy Ahead of the upcoming campaign, Darnold spoke out about Purdy. He did not hold back from crediting the young 49ers quarterback with helping turn his career around. "Brock helped me a ton," Darnold said. "With certain things of how to prepare and even just watching him play. Just how he processes on the field and all those certain things." He continued on, revealing more of the lessons that he learned from his time in San Francisco. "I think that's the biggest thing that I learned going there was just to trust the progressions and if something is not there, trust it, and move on to the next one and the next one," he said. "If that's not there, then be able to make a play potentially, but understand where my outs are. If I'm hot, understand where my hot is. If I need to hang in the pocket, understand where I can potentially throw the ball away if there's pressure. They taught me so much about playing good football, and I'm forever thankful for my time there." Read more: Vikings Reportedly Concerned With JJ McCarthy All of the lessons that he learned with the 49ers paid off during the 2024 season with the Vikings. Darnold played in all 17 regular season games, completing 66.2 percent of his pass attempts for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Behind those impressive numbers, Darnold led Minnesota to a 14-3 record. Unfortunately, the Vikings lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs to the Los Angeles Rams. Landing with the Seahawks on a three-year, $100.5 million contract, Darnold will now have a chance to prove that he wasn't just a product of Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell's system. He will also be competing directly with his old team and close friend in the same division. For more Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Vikings' QB Whisperer O'Connell Faces Biggest Test With McCarthy
Kevin O'Connell faces an enormous task as he prepares for the 2025 season. (Photo by Kevin C. ...) There is no resting on past accomplishments for Vikings fourth-year head coach Kevin O'Connell. While the first three years of his association with the organization have clearly been successful with a 13-win season in 2022 and a 14-win season last year, O'Connell is facing the biggest test of his career. O'Connell came to the Vikings with a reputation of being an expert at working with quarterbacks. He has been elite in that area, as he brought out a Super Bowl-winning performance from Matthew Stafford with the Los Angeles Rams as the team's offensive coordinator under head coach Sean McVay. He was the 'hot' assistant when the Vikings hired him, and he helped Kirk Cousins deliver a Pro Bowl performance that included a 65.9 completion percentage and 29 TDs in his first year. That led to a first-place finish in the NFC North even though the Minnesota defense was putrid. When Cousins suffered an Achilles injury in 2023, O'Connell did a fine job of keeping the team afloat and in the playoff race until the final weeks of the regular season with non-descript quarterbacks Josh Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall under center. O'Connell was at his best last year after the Vikings lost rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy to a torn meniscus in the team's first preseason game. The Vikings turned to backup Sam Darnold as the team's QB1, and he had the best season of his career. Darnold threw 35 TD passes and completed 66.2 percent of his attempts. The Vikings could have brought Darnold back, but a decision was made to let him leave through free agency. The team wants McCarthy to take over at quarterback because general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, O'Connell and the coaching staff believe he has a chance to rank with the best quarterbacks in the league. This will be the biggest test of O'Connell's coaching career. There's no doubt about his knowledge of the quarterback position and he clearly has had excellent results. However, does that mean O'Connell will have success with every quarterback he collaborates with? There are no guarantees. J.J. McCarthy is preparing for a huge challenge with the Vikings in 2025. (Photo by Stephen ...) Even if he is successful with McCarthy, it does not mean the quarterback will avoid errors and mistakes along the way. Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs is the top performer in the league based on the success he has had with three Super Bowl titles and five Super Bowl appearances. Expecting McCarthy to perform at a similar level would be foolhardy. McCarthy was one of six first-round quarterbacks selected in the 2024 NFL Draft and the top performer to this point is Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders. He drove the team to the NFC title game in his first year in the league. O'Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown are too smart to fall into the trap of comparing McCarthy to other signal callers. Instead, they have a plan of development that challenges the young quarterback every time he takes snap. McCarthy is on the field for the first time during the Vikings' Organized Training Activity (OTA), and the brain trust has challenged the former Michigan quarterback to pursue improvement on every snap. 'We're constantly making it feel like he's growing,' O'Connell said. 'But it's never about him being comfortable or satisfied on any particular outcome because we're building toward something much greater than a play here or there.' These are the first steps that McCarthy is taking as he prepares to become the starting quarterback when the season opens in Week One against the Chicago Bears. The pressure on the quarterback and the head coach will ratchet up throughout the rest of the offseason, training camp and the start of the season. The Vikings are hoping to battle the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers for superiority in the NFC North and perhaps the top seed in the NFC. The team appears to be loaded with talent at nearly all the key positions and the key to their success will be the development and performance of their young quarterback. Nobody knows this better than O'Connell, the quarterback whisperer.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Vikings sign GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to contract extension
How many games will the Vikings win this season? How many games will the Vikings win this season? How many games will the Vikings win this season? The Minnesota Vikings on Friday announced the signing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to a multi-year contract extension. Adofo-Mensah was hired in January 2022 and was entering the final year of his four-year contract. Details of the contract extension are not yet known. "This organization means so much to me, and I've always believed in what we're building here. From the ownership to the incredible staff, there's a true commitment to creating a winning culture with the goal of competing year in and year out," Adofo-Mensah said. "I'm thankful for the trust the Wilf family has placed in me, and I'm thrilled to continue leading our football operation alongside Coach O'Connell. Minnesota has welcomed my family with open arms, and we embrace the sacrifices that come with chasing the ultimate prize, knowing what it will mean to the best fan base and this great state." Under Adofo-Mensah's leadership, the Vikings have gone 34-17 in three regular seasons. The team has also seen a significant change, as longtime veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins departed following the 2023 NFL season. Last season, the team achieved the second-most wins in a season in franchise history (14-3) after signing free agent QB Sam Darnold. "Kwesi's leadership, vision and collaboration with our coaching staff has positioned the Minnesota Vikings for sustained success," Vikings owner and president Mark Wilf said. "His dedication and forward-thinking approach have been instrumental in shaping our roster and future, and we are confident that under the guidance of him and Kevin O'Connell, we will continue to compete at the highest level as we pursue a championship for Vikings fans." In the 2024 NFL draft, the Vikings selected the presumed QB of the future in J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick. After missing last season to a knee injury, he's expected to lead the team this season. Thirteen Vikings players have been selected to Pro Bowls under Adofo-Mensah, including Darnold, outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. in 2024. Head coach Kevin O'Connell was also named 2024 NFL Coach of the Year.
NBC Sports
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
NEWLY ACQUIRED SAM DARNOLD (SEAHAWKS) AND GENO SMITH (RAIDERS) HEADLINE EPISODE 3 OF CHRIS SIMMS' QUARTERBACK COUNTDOWN, NOW ON 'CHRIS SIMMS UNBUTTONED' AND 'PRO FOOTBALL TALK'
Simms' QB Countdown Continues Today with Next Tier - 'Escaped from New York' - and Culminates with the Top Five QBs on Monday, June 9; In-Depth Breakdowns for Each Ranking Weekly on Chris Simms Unbuttoned Podcast 'I don't see a ton of issues physically but it's his [lack of] feel and experience, just having more of a backyard sense.' – Simms on Seahawks' Sam Darnold 'His arm is crazy strong, he's versatile, he can throw off his back foot, sidearm, anything you want. That is also one of his problems.' – Simms on Raiders' Geno Smith STAMFORD, Conn. – May 28, 2025 – NBC Sports' Chris Simms continues his list of the top quarterbacks in the NFL on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and on 'PFT Live' today, featuring 2025 Pro Bowler Sam Darnold of the Seahawks and 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year Geno Smith of the Raiders, who are both entering their first seasons with their respective teams. This year's countdown features a new format, with Simms focusing on tiers and groups of quarterbacks as opposed to specific numeric rankings until the later rounds. Continuing the countdown, Simms unveiled his quarterbacks ranked in the next tier today, with QBs in the 'Escaped from New York' tier. Continuing today and culminating Monday, June 9 with his top five quarterbacks, Simms will unveil a group of quarterbacks on each Chris Simms Unbuttoned episode and discuss his rankings on 'PFT Live' with Mike Florio. Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, will also offer in-depth player breakdowns and rankings explanations throughout each week on Chris Simms Unbuttoned. Simms has had success in projecting college quarterbacks – including naming Jayden Daniels, who was named AP's 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year following a season that saw him lead the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game, as his No. 2 QB prospect in 2024. Additionally, Simms named C.J. Stroud, who was named AP's 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year, as his top QB prospect in 2023, Patrick Mahomes as his most exciting prospect in 2017, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen as his top-two QBs in 2018, and Justin Herbert as his No. 2 QB in 2020. The rankings will continue next Monday, June 2, on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned. The following are highlights from this week's edition of Chris Simms Unbuttoned: Escaped from New York Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks 'A lot of good here. His season started off on a really high note throwing the ball all over the field and you went, 'Wow!' The good is his incredibly quick release; really gifted short-to-intermediate thrower of the football because he can get it out so quick. He's got more power in his arm than I think he gets credit for. This year, he got better at deep ball throwing. A lot of the things I'm going to talk about negatively with Sam Darnold is experience related. He was so spoiled by (Vikings head coach) Kevin O'Connell and the offense earlier in the year that when he got to the latter part of the year, those first reads weren't always open every time like the first few weeks. His internal clock, because of some of the big moments, was a little thrown off. I don't see a ton of issues physically but it's his [lack of] feel and experience, just having more of a backyard sense.' Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders 'This is a hard one….I don't think it was his best year but let me tell you this, with Geno Smith, the physical ability is real. His arm is crazy strong, he's versatile, he can throw off his back foot, sidearm, anything you want. That is also one of his problems though, because, like Darnold with his first read, Smith is not too different in that way. He has more confidence in his arm and throwing into tight windows than Darnold but that gets him in trouble. He puts the ball where he wants to, but he's taking too many chances. You see that in his worst games and his worst moments. That's what it always came down to. There has to be a better 'get out of jail' plan with Geno Smith. As a quarterback, it's your job to go and attack, but if all fails, you need to know where you're going to get the ball to keep the team in a good position.' To listen to the full player breakdowns on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, click here. -NBC SPORTS-
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Quarterback and head coach power rankings: Where do the Seahawks land?
Quarterback and head coach power rankings: Where do the Seahawks land? The theme of the Seattle Seahawks right now, and headed into 2025, is... unknown. There are a lot of unknowns with this team after undergoing a sizable rehaul earlier this offseason. General manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald are remaking the Seahawks in their image as they continue boldly going down this new path they're forging together. One of the biggest unknowns is quarterback Sam Darnold... specifically, what version of Sam Darnold will Seattle get? Is what we saw from Minnesota last year the real deal? Or was it a flash in the pan, "one-hit-wonder" and he will turn back into the proverbial pumpkin? It's a fair question to ask, considering Darnold has had exactly one (1) good year up to this point, and a lot of years that.... weren't so good. This unknown is why in a recent power ranking of quarterback/head coach duos, Mike Macdonald and Sam Darnold rank among the bottom third of the league. In NFL Spin Zone's ranking, Macdonald and Darnold are all the way down at No. 25 overall. Here is what NFL Spin Zone had to say: Sam Darnold was one of the NFL's biggest success stories last year and Mike Macdonald decided to clean house on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. Everyone is interested to see if Darnold can keep things going without being tethered to Kevin O'Connell, especially because he sort of came crashing back to earth as the season progressed in 2024. And he won't have Justin Jefferson anymore, either. Well, as far as "crashing back to earth as the season progressed" isn't quite accurate. Darnold played lights-out football down the stretch. It wasn't until the Week 18 finale in Detroit and the Wild Card game against the Rams when Darnold's "crash" began. But then again, in fairness, those were the two biggest games for the Vikings all season long... which is why doubt still persists for Darnold. And persist it will, as the burden of proof lies with Darnold and the Seahawks. For those interested... Sean McVay/Matthew Stafford came in at No. 4 on the list, followed by Kyle Shanahan/Brock Purdy at No. 8, and Jonathan Gannon/Kyler Murray at No. 20. Just ahead of Gannon and Murray were Pete Carroll and Geno Smith at No. 19 overall.
