Darnold quietened down all of the doubters last season, but he's got one more thing to accomplish before the redemption tour is officially complete.
Last season, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had the weight of the NFL world on his shoulders.
After being dominated in the playoffs with the Minnesota Vikings, many thought Darnold would never recover. He found his way to Seattle, and as the team kept winning, many wondered when he would eventually slip up.
Except he didn't.
Another 14-win season, and this time, in the playoffs, Darnold was elite, leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win, and not having a single turnover after 14 in the regular season.
So, for most, that ended the debate over whether Darnold was good enough and silenced the skeptics about what sort of talent Sam has.
Now, as we turn to 2026, and the Seahawks have a Super Bowl title to defend, Darnold doesn't really have anything left to prove.
But for NFL.com's Dan Parr, there is one more thing left for Darnold to complete his career, and that's an MVP.
Parr named Darnold as one of a host of MVP dark horses in 2026.
"The Darnold’s going to turn into a pumpkin narrative was on life support heading into last season’s playoffs, and it probably died for good when he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy on the night of Feb. 8," Parr wrote.
"All that’s left for him to prove is he’s the MVP -- more than the beneficiary of Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s rare ability, a dominant defense and potent running game, even though such back-handed characterizations of Darnold’s contributions in 2025 were myopic anyway.
"If he proves up to the challenge and the Seahawks are contending for a second straight crown in the league’s best division, it would only make sense if serious MVP buzz followed."
Now, does Darnold need an MVP win to fully silence the skeptics? For me, no. He did it all last year.
It was one thing to win the Super Bowl, but it was another to be nearly flawless in three straight playoff games. Would an MVP be the cherry on top? Sure, but Darnold won't be heavily criticized on whether he wins it or not.
It would be a nice full stop on a career redemption arc that began in Minnesota and finished in Seattle.
In the prime of his career, Darnold has many years of top-quality football ahead of him, and if he can somehow snag another Super Bowl ring, that would likely mean more than an MVP win.
