How much pressure is Seahawks QB Sam Darnold under?

Sam Darnold spent most of last season authoring a breakout campaign with the Minnesota Vikings that rewrote the narrative of his once-disappointing career.

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But with a rough final two games, Darnold’s 2024 ended on a sour note, and the questions over his long-term standing as an NFL franchise quarterback came flooding back.

As Darnold embarks on a new chapter with the Seattle Seahawks, he gets a chance to prove that last season’s 35-touchdown campaign wasn’t just a one-hit wonder. And he’s expected to get every opportunity to do so, as he enters 2025 as the undisputed QB1 for Seattle after inking a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seahawks in March.

However, Darnold’s contract is structured in a way that could allow the Seahawks to cut ties after one season, which essentially makes it a one-year prove-it deal for the 28-year-old QB.

So, just how much pressure is Darnold under in 2025? Former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus and Stacy Rost discussed that topic during a recent conversation on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy.

Bump’s view

Bumpus doesn’t think there’s much pressure surrounding Darnold, at least compared to some of the league’s top quarterbacks. He argued that perceptions can take a long time to change and that the general public isn’t expecting Darnold to play at an elite level and carry the team.

“Who really expects Sam Darnold to come in and look exactly the way he looked last year with the Minnesota Vikings?” Bumpus said. “He doesn’t have a big track record or resume of him being an elite quarterback. That doesn’t mean he can’t be it, but I feel like even if he were to have an elite season, … he might not even get the love that he deserves.

“I think because of Sam Darnold and who he’s been in the league – at least the way he’s been perceived – it’s not gonna allow him to get (that) credit. And then if he doesn’t play well, he’s not gonna be held accountable the way that most quarterbacks are held accountable.”

Stacy’s view

Rost had a different perspective. She argued that while Darnold’s starting job is secure heading into this season, it’s anything but secure for 2026 and beyond.

Given Darnold’s track record of struggles earlier in his career, Rost said Darnold simply hasn’t earned the benefit of the doubt and will essentially be playing for a future starting job this fall – whether that future job is in Seattle or another team.

“I think that if you have a year where you drastically underperform, not only are you basically on a one-year contract with the Seahawks, but on your next stop, wherever that should be, you lose that (opportunity),” Rost said. “You have to have a lot of deposits made in order to get that chance over and over and over again. And Sam Darnold simply doesn’t.

“So I think that his future as a starter with (Seattle or) any other team is up in the air this year. That’s the kind of pressure he’s facing. … If he throws 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, do you have a job next year? That’s a lot of pressure.”

Listen to the full Bump and Stacy conversation in the video at the top of this post or the podcast at this link. Tune in to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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