The San Francisco 49ers will face a familiar quarterback on Saturday night with the NFC West title and home-field advantage at stake. Sam Darnold, now leading the Seattle Seahawks, spent the 2023 season with the 49ers as Brock Purdy's backup, appearing in a career-low 130 snaps and making one start.
Though his opportunities were limited, Darnold parlayed his year behind Purdy and learning from head coach Kyle Shanahan into a stint with the Minnesota Vikings, playing well enough to earn a three-year, $100.5 million deal from Seattle this past offseason.
On Saturday night at Levi's Stadium, the winner of 49ers vs. Seahawks will claim the division crown and the NFC's top playoff seed.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Purdy praised Darnold's growth since his time in San Francisco and the success he's earned across multiple stops—winning 27 games over the last two seasons.
"[He's] just playing quarterback at a really high level in the NFL," Purdy said. "For him to go and obviously do it with Minnesota, and then Seattle, two different teams, it just goes to show you how great of a player he is, great of a guy in the locker room. You can't be a quarterback and fake it. Like guys can sniff that out. And he's a guy that's gone to two different places and built up cultures to where they're winning cultures.
"So, it's a testament to him, for who he is. He's an awesome guy, and obviously, the talent, the mindset to play quarterback, he's got it. So, definitely not surprised that he has done that."
Darnold enters the Week 18 showdown having thrown for 3,850 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions this season.
A couple of 49ers coaches also weighed in on the Seahawks quarterback.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who was in his first offseason with the New York Jets when Darnold was traded to Carolina ahead of the team drafting Zach Wilson, highlighted Darnold's progression since facing him in Week 1.
"They're finding ways to feed everybody the ball," Saleh said. "I know [Jaxon Smith-Njigba] is probably the star of it all, but they're all touching it, and they're all effective. So, they are much improved from Week 1."
Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, who was the 49ers' assistant quarterbacks coach in 2023, echoed those sentiments.
"He's been on two teams in the last two years, and I think he's won like [27] games or something," Kubiak said. "Sam's gotten a chance to go and compete on really good teams, and he's proven that he can lead, he can win. And you put a good foundation around him, in an offense where he feels comfortable, the guy's a heck of a player.
"We saw it when he was here. We knew the talent. We were so excited about him, to have him. I'm just happy for him because he's earned it and he's put in the work, and it's pretty cool to see him having the success he's having."
Comments