The Minnesota Vikings will have a new starting quarterback in 2025 after Sam Darnold opted to sign with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. While the search for his replacement continues, Darnold’s lone season in Minnesota was a historic one.
His departure leaves questions about the Vikings’ future, but Darnold made it clear in his first media appearance since signing with Seattle that leaving wasn’t easy.
Speaking with The Insiders on March 13, Darnold expressed gratitude for his time in Minnesota while also looking forward to his new chapter in Seattle.
Darnold on Leaving Minnesota: “It Was Incredibly Tough”
Darnold admitted that parting ways with the Vikings was a difficult decision.
“It was incredibly tough [to leave the Vikings]. I wanted to make it work and do everything I could to stay there. But at the end of the day, this is a business, and they got to do what’s best for them, and I gotta do what’s best for me,” he said.
He went on to thank the Vikings organization, coaches, and teammates for his time there.
“I’m so thankful, I’m so grateful for the people that I met in Minnesota—obviously, the coaching staff, my teammates. I can’t thank them enough for the time that I spent with them.”
Reflecting on his season, Darnold acknowledged that success wasn’t just about individual performances.
“You look at that video—it wasn’t just me, or just Justin [Jefferson] out there. It was a collective group coming together for one common goal. That’s what we set out to do every single day,” he said.
While the Vikings fought hard each week, their season ended on a disappointing note with back-to-back losses—first to the Detroit Lions for the NFC’s No. 1 seed and then to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round.
Lessons from a Tough Finish
Darnold finished his final two games in Minnesota with 411 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception, completing just 53% of his passes. Looking back, he recognized areas for improvement.
“The biggest thing was just getting the ball out. I felt like I took too many sacks in those games. The coverage was really good, and the pass rush was strong. For me, it was about being able to—even if the checkdown’s covered—just throw it at his feet in some of those situations,” Darnold explained.
Despite the season’s ending, Darnold felt he gained valuable experience with the Vikings.
A New Start in Seattle
Darnold completed 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in the 2024 regular season. His strong performance led to a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seahawks, who had just traded their previous starter, Geno Smith, to the Las Vegas Raiders.
In Seattle, Darnold reunites with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who was his passing game coordinator in San Francisco in 2023. The familiarity with Kubiak’s system is something Darnold is excited about.
“It’s been great to be able to spend time here in this facility, get to spend time with the coaches and some of the players. Obviously, some of the guys we signed—D-Law [DeMarcus Lawrence] and Josh [Jones]—just being able to spend time with them has been amazing,” he said.
Darnold also shared his enthusiasm about working with Kubiak again.
“I’ve been so eager to just ask Klint a ton of questions about the offense—people are trying to drag me out of his office. Once you get going on the football side of things, you don’t want to stop.”
Preparing for the 2025 Season
Looking ahead, Darnold is focused on learning the Seahawks’ playbook and building chemistry with his new teammates.
“You just start over. You put in the work,” he said. “For me, I’m gonna get with Klint on the playbook and start to understand the formations and all the motions. Some terminology is similar to what we did in San Francisco, but some things have changed, and I’m really looking forward to learning that.”
Darnold also emphasized the importance of building relationships off the field.
“That’s one of the bigger things that people don’t talk about—the chemistry you have with your teammates off the field directly correlates to the chemistry on the field. I’m super pumped to start that journey here, get to know these guys, and just get to playing football.”
A Career of Learning Experiences
At 28, Darnold is still in his prime, especially given the longevity of today’s quarterbacks. Since being drafted third overall by the New York Jets in 2018, he has experienced both challenges and growth throughout his career.
“I learned a ton, obviously, everywhere I’ve been,” he said. “You learn a lot from the good experiences, but I would say you learn even more from the bad ones.”
He pointed to his previous stops with the Jets, Panthers, 49ers, and Vikings as key moments in his development.
“Just seeing the way Brock Purdy studied, getting to spend time with guys like Brandon Allen—who had spent time with Joe Burrow in Cincinnati—there was just a lot of football knowledge to go around in that room, and I soaked everything up that I could,” he added.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell had referenced Darnold’s time in San Francisco when explaining Minnesota’s decision to sign him last year. While the Vikings now turn the page to a new quarterback, Darnold is eager to begin his next chapter in Seattle.
With his experience, familiarity with Kubiak’s system, and fresh start with the Seahawks, he hopes to take his career to the next level in 2025.
