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 loopy,” Macdonald replied when requested if something besides harm would loosen Darnold’s grip on the job, per ESPN. “I respect that you simply’ve bought to ask it, however it’s only a loopy query. It’s simply not going to occur. Sam’s our beginning quarterback. We love him. He’s doing an incredible job.”
Darnold, 27, signed with the Seahawks on a three-year, $100.5 million pact in March following a profession 12 months 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 quick 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 since you made one unhealthy throw or one unhealthy determination,” he mentioned. “That isn’t what we’re attempting to construct. We wish these guys to go put together the appropriate manner after which after they exit on the follow area, go freaking let it rip after which we’ll go repair it. … We’ve bought time. It’s June 3 … They’re going to get loads of reps. We’ll get these issues mounted.”
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 occasions.
The Vikings are transferring ahead with final 12 months’s first-round decide, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed final season as a result of a knee harm.
Previous to Darnold’s arrival, the Seahawks moved on from quarterback Geno Smith, buying and selling the guy 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 need to get out of the union after a 12 months.
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.
