The NFL sent a clear message after the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl.
Seahawks QB Darnold's effort throughout the playoffs was clear. He helped Seattle crush the San Francisco 49ers, beat the Los Angeles Rams, and control the Super Bowl. The Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 to finish a dominant run.
The league posted a photo of Sam Darnold sitting on a throne with a crown on his head. The caption read, “Crown him,” with a crown emoji. The post praised his long road to the top.
The league added another note that made history clear. It wrote that Darnold became the first starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl after playing with five or more teams. Drafted by the New York Jets (2018–2020), then played for the Carolina Panthers (2021–2022), the San Francisco 49ers (2023), the Minnesota Vikings (2024), and then joined the Seahawks in 2025.
"The first starting QB in history to win a Super Bowl after playing with 5+ teams. What a rewarding journey for Sam Darnold," the NFL wrote.
Darnold later shared his own words after the win. He spoke about the confetti and the feeling at the final whistle.
"We did it," Darnold said, as he looked back on the season. "That was it, man. It was, uh… It's been such a special journey with these guys. So much hard work that's been poured into this, and that's it. It was just a job well done."
In the regular season, Darnold delivered the best season of his career in 2025. He led Seattle to a 14-3 record and the top seed in the NFC. He threw for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He completed 67.7 percent of his passes with a 99.1 rating.
So, clearly, Darnold's play and smart reads stood out all year.