Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald isn’t opening the door to a Sam Darnold quarterback controversy.
Speaking Tuesday on Seattle Sports 710-AM, the second-year coach quelled any speculation that the team’s $100 million acquisition could lose the role of QB1 before the start of the season.
“No, you guys are crazy,” Macdonald replied when asked if anything except injury would loosen Darnold’s grip on the job, per ESPN. “I respect that you’ve got to ask it, but it’s just a crazy question. It’s just not going to happen. Sam’s our starting quarterback. We love him. He’s doing a tremendous job.”
Darnold, 27, signed with the Seahawks on a three-year, $100.5 million pact in March following a career year with the Vikings.
Macdonald, 37, responded to Tuesday’s question after Seattle took a spin on the Darnold roller-coaster at OTAs this week, when he tossed two interceptions in a brief span.
The coach made it clear no one 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 because you made one bad throw or one bad decision,” he said. “That is not what we’re trying to build. We want these guys to go prepare the right way and then when they go out on the practice field, go freaking let it rip and then we’ll go fix it. … We’ve got time. It’s June 3 … They’re going to get plenty of reps. We’ll get those things fixed.”
Darnold is starting anew in the Pacific Northwest after earning his first Pro Bowl nod in Minnesota, where he threw 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions en route to a postseason appearance.
The NFL journeyman — whose previous stops included the Jets, Panthers and Niners — came crashing back down to earth in the playoffs, with the Vikings being routed by the Rams in the wild-card round, 27-9.
Darnold tossed a touchdown and an interception, and was sacked nine times.
The Vikings are moving forward with last year’s first-round pick, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed last season due to a knee injury.
Prior to Darnold’s arrival, the Seahawks moved on from quarterback Geno Smith, trading the fellow ex-Jet to the Raiders in March after missing the playoffs following a 10-7 campaign.
Even with the Seahawks all-in on Darnold, they do have a $37.5 million escape hatch in the event they want to get out of the union after a year.
Seattle also has insurance in former backup quarterback Drew Lock, who rejoined the team in April after a stint with the Giants, and rookie Jalen Milroe, taken in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Alabama.
Darnold and the Seahawks host the Niners in their season opener on Sept. 7.
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