Our Super Bowl champion quarterback, Sam Darnold, just got a major bump in The Athletic’s annual NFL QB Tiers survey, landing at a stunning 14th overall, tied with Baker Mayfield. This isn’t just a small step up, folks. After leading our beloved Seahawks to a Lombardi Trophy, Darnold has now moved up a tier for the *third consecutive year* in Mike Sando’s survey of 50 NFL coaches and executives. That’s a climb from “purgatory” with the New York Jets all the way to a top-15 spot in the league, and honestly, it still feels a little surreal.
From Zero To Hero: Darnold’s Unprecedented Ascent
This isn’t your average year-to-year improvement. Darnold’s aggregate ranking of 14th puts him squarely in the Tier 2 range, which kicks off with Lamar Jackson at No. 5 and goes all the way to Jalen Hurts at No. 17. These are the guys who “carry their team sometimes” and “handle pure-passing situations in doses.” Think about where he started! His improvement from a 4.00 to a 2.36 is a full tier better than any other quarterback who’s been in the survey since before 2024. A head coach even said it flat out: “Sam played his ass off the last two years.” This kind of sustained climb for an established starter is incredibly rare in the 13-year history of these QB Tiers. It’s a testament to the grind, the belief, and the pure grit we’ve seen from him on the Lumen Field turf.
The Secret Sauce And The Straight Talk From Execs
So, what’s behind this incredible turnaround for our guy? An exec laid it all out: “There are so many factors that determine a quarterback’s success, and Darnold’s the best example of it. To get him into the right system, with the right coaches, and you have a game-breaking receiver, and a good defense. It’s a lot easier.” Another exec echoed that, stressing, “Sam is at his best when you run the ball, play defense and then he’s not in position to turn the ball over, but when his number is called, he can make big plays. If they don’t start running the football, they probably don’t win the Super Bowl.” Yeah, the experts are saying what we’ve seen with our own eyes: a balanced attack with a strong defense is key. And while Sando pointed out that Darnold has had optimal support from defense and special teams, the bottom line is he’s succeeding. He’s making plays when they count instead of letting a talented team down, which is what matters most to us 12s. It’s almost like a blast from the past, reminiscent of Russell Wilson benefiting from elite defense and special teams early in his career.
As we head into the new season, this early buzz from the league’s top minds is exactly what we want to hear. What’s next for our Super Bowl MVP? We’re about to find out, and you know we’ll be here for every single snap. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
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