Sam Darnold enters 2026 without the elite offensive coordinators who helped revive his career, putting new pressure on Seattle’s quarterback.
Sam Darnold lifted the Lombardi Trophy four months ago and somehow still enters 2026 as one of the most questioned quarterbacks in the NFL.
For the first time in three seasons, Darnold will operate without either Klint Kubiak or Kevin O’Connell calling plays. Both are regarded as elite offensive minds, and both played significant roles in rebuilding Darnold’s career after difficult stops with the Jets and Panthers.
Now the responsibility shifts to first-time offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, whose NFL background came primarily as an offensive assistant in San Francisco. Fleury has never called plays at the professional level, which creates a legitimate question entering the season: how much of Darnold’s resurgence came from the quarterback himself, and how much came from the coaching structure around him?
That concern is reasonable, but there are also several reasons Seattle believes the transition can work.
For a quarterback to succeed with a new coordinator, it always helps if he has some familiarity with the new system. Darnold spent the 2023 season with the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan, learning the same offensive principles Fleury now brings to Seattle. The offensive DNA between Shanahan’s system, Klint Kubiak’s structure and the broader Mike Shanahan coaching tree overlaps heavily.
Seattle also returns a stronger supporting cast than many outsiders realize. Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues developing into one of the NFL’s best young receivers, while Cooper Kupp still provides reliability and route precision underneath. Rashid Shaheed re-signed and remains one of the league’s better vertical threats, giving Darnold another explosive speed option on the outside.
The backfield should also remain productive despite major turnover. First-round rookie Jadarian Price arrives with significant expectations, while Zach Charbonnet returns from his ACL recovery alongside Emanuel Wilson, Kenny McIntosh and George Holani. Seattle still projects as one of the deeper rushing attacks in the NFC.
Ultimately, though, the spotlight remains on Darnold himself.
He now has to prove the past two seasons were not simply the product of elite play-callers elevating an average quarterback. Seattle needs him to continue making efficient third-down decisions, manage pressure consistently and show he can execute at a high level without one of the league’s established offensive masterminds designing every adjustment.
There is also a financial layer attached to the season. Darnold is effectively playing for another long-term contract, and quarterbacks in contract years often produce some of their best football. Seattle believes there is still another level to his game.
