Big Picture: Why Seahawks GM John Schneider Expects Sam Darnold to 'Play Even Better' in 2026
#Seahawks #Sam Darnold #John Schneider #Mike Macdonald #Hard Knocks #Brian Fleury #Cooper Kupp #offense
📌 Key Takeaways
- Seahawks GM John Schneider expects Sam Darnold to improve in his second season with the team.
- Schneider highlights Darnold's leadership and integration as 'just a football player' among teammates.
- Increased chemistry with receivers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp is anticipated.
- Despite offensive coordinator change, the system remains consistent under new coach Brian Fleury.
- The Seahawks' upcoming appearance on HBO's 'Hard Knocks' will offer a closer look at team dynamics.
📖 Full Retelling
PHOENIX — Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider's eyes lit up when I asked about his team’s prized quarterback, Sam Darnold. In my conversation with Schneider, he emphasized the belief that the USC product has more to show entering his second season in Seattle. That’s right. Even after leading a different team to a 14-win season that included a run to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in his first year with the Seahawks, Schneider said Darnold having a second offseason under head coach Mike Macdonald and getting more comfortable in the offense will lead to even more efficient performances on game days. "Yeah, I know it’s crazy to say that because he won 14 games last year," Schneider told me, while posted up at a cozy table at the Arizona Biltmore hotel. "But we’ve always said Sam is just a football player. When you take the quarterbacking out of it – all the quarterback schools and stuff that you go to – he’s just a football player." What do you mean by football player, John? "It means the quarterback isn’t separated from the rest of the team," Schneider said. "He’s one of the guys. And that means he’s a great leader." Schneider expects Darnold to create even better chemistry with playmakers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp by taking more on-field reps. And that’s something we should get an up-close view of, with the Seahawks set to appear on HBO’s "Hard Knocks" for the first time this year. Yes, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become the head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. But the Seahawks replaced Kubiak with San Francisco 49ers run game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Fleury, who coached with Kubiak and established a rapport with Darnold during their time together in San Francisco. So, the bottom line is the offense remains the same for Darnold. "He’s going to be that much more comfortable from being around his team," Schneider told me. "Just his relationship with Coop and Rashid. Like, Rashid came in during the s
🏷️ Themes
Quarterback Development, Team Chemistry, Coaching Changes
Entity Intersection Graph
No entity connections available yet for this article.
Original Source
PHOENIX — Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider's eyes lit up when I asked about his team’s prized quarterback, Sam Darnold. In my conversation with Schneider, he emphasized the belief that the USC product has more to show entering his second season in Seattle. That’s right. Even after leading a different team to a 14-win season that included a run to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in his first year with the Seahawks, Schneider said Darnold having a second offseason under head coach Mike Macdonald and getting more comfortable in the offense will lead to even more efficient performances on game days. "Yeah, I know it’s crazy to say that because he won 14 games last year," Schneider told me, while posted up at a cozy table at the Arizona Biltmore hotel. "But we’ve always said Sam is just a football player. When you take the quarterbacking out of it – all the quarterback schools and stuff that you go to – he’s just a football player." What do you mean by football player, John? "It means the quarterback isn’t separated from the rest of the team," Schneider said. "He’s one of the guys. And that means he’s a great leader." Schneider expects Darnold to create even better chemistry with playmakers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp by taking more on-field reps. And that’s something we should get an up-close view of, with the Seahawks set to appear on HBO’s "Hard Knocks" for the first time this year. Yes, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become the head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. But the Seahawks replaced Kubiak with San Francisco 49ers run game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Fleury, who coached with Kubiak and established a rapport with Darnold during their time together in San Francisco. So, the bottom line is the offense remains the same for Darnold. "He’s going to be that much more comfortable from being around his team," Schneider told me. "Just his relationship with Coop and Rashid. Like, Rashid came in during the s
Read full article at source