Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and offensive tackle Charles Cross (67) celebrate after a TD against the Cardinals. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Seahawks' QB Sam Darnold earns national praise for rare 'clutch moments'

Originally posted on Seattle Seahawks on SI
By Richie Whitt | Last updated Sep 29, 2025 7:00 PM ET

With three consecutive wins, the Seattle Seahawks are beginning to turn heads and gain attention. In fact, one national media outlet is now a firm believer in quarterback Sam Darnold, if not yet in head coach Mike Macdonald.

In the wake of last Thursday's pulsating 23-20 win over the NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals, Sports Illustrated writes in a new story that Macdonald needs to trust a quarterback who has earned it after a rocky career.

"Darnold and this Seattle offense weren’t built to play in tight games," writes Gilberto Manzano. "That’s what I thought until I witnessed Darnold overcome some horrific decisions from his coaches Thursday night to win 23–20 and avoid an epic collapse in Arizona."

As he's done this season - except, of course, for the crucial fumble against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 - Darnold made clutch plays when his team needed them most. His 36-yard pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba put the Seahawks in position to take a 10-point lead and put the game away late in the fourth quarter, but Macdonald then got conservative with three running plays before kicker Jason Myers' 53-yard miss left the door ajar.

Undaunted - and now trailing - Darnold came right back with 22-yard completion to Smith-Njigba that set up Myers' redemption via 52-yard game-winner.

Writes SI of the game-ending sequence, "Macdonald and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak just couldn’t help themselves by calling another running play and leaving their kicker with a lengthy field goal when their red-hot quarterback could have easily gotten another 10-plus yards."

Still just 28, Darnold's five-team, eight-year journey is well-documented. SI points out that he's now proving he can thrive without star receiver Justin Jefferson in Minnesota, and that he's now a trusted veteran more than the No. 3 overall draft bust.

"We’re well past the ugly days with the Jets," SI writes. "It’s now about expecting more frequent clutch moments from Darnold, especially against legitimate contenders."