Climbing to the top of the NFL mountain is a great achievement, but Darnold and his Seattle team have made sure their focus is on this year.
Winning the Super Bowl is the pinnacle for every NFL player, and the Seattle Seahawks climbed to the top of the NFL mountain last year.
We often hear of teams who win the Super Bowl the following season, maybe their hunger and desire aren't quite at the level they were the year prior.
Call it a "Super Bowl Hangover.''
Receiver Shahid Shaheed stated that it is "completely false" to think the Seahawks will fall into that trap, so fans can be safe in the thought that the Seattle hunger is as big as ever.
But when you are the champs, there is a lot of extra that comes with it, such as the increased pressure to do it again, all of the attention is now on you to back it up, the media coverage, and everything else that comes with being a champion.
Given that it is the first time most of the Seahawks' roster has been through something like this, it can be a little challenging.
But how has Sam Darnold seen his team cope with all of the extra things that come with being a champion this offseason?
"I think our guys have been good," Darnold said. "We got really good leadership to be able to handle stuff like that, in every single position room. I think coach Mike, his message to the team has been very good and just the way that we're attacking the whole thing, but again, we want to run it forward.
"So that's been our mindset, and obviously learn from last year, but we're not going to live in last year. We got a lot of work to do to continue to put in the work that we need to have a good season this season."
The Seahawks appear to be in a good spot mentally as they approach the new season with a big target on their back as champions.
Each week, they are going to get each team's best shot because everyone will want to be "the" team that takes down the champs, and that can be grueling, both mentally and physically.
But Mike Macdonald will have this team ready for any challenge presented to it this season as they go from the hunter to the hunted.
Chasing a Super Bowl win as part of the chasing pack is one thing. Chasing it as the defending champ is another thing entirely.
