Renton, Wash. (AP) — Above all, Sam Darnold recognizes that he’s not particularly skilled at golf.
The Seattle Seahawks quarterback, who inked a $105.5 million three-year contract in March, mentioned he has a 10 handicap. At 27, he looks forward to spending his offseason hiking and exploring local restaurants in the Seattle area.
And regarding that new house.
“We purchased the place, so honestly, we had quite a bit of furniture to deal with,” Darnold stated on Wednesday.
This was his focus during the offseason, aside from football. Just five days after an organized team activity, Darnold’s main goal is to master the playbook under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak and Darnold were both part of the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, but many things have changed since their time in the Bay Area when Kubiak served as the passing game coordinator, and Darnold was the backup.
Kubiak spent the previous season as the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, while Darnold had his best NFL season to date, achieving career highs in passing yards, touchdowns, and completion percentage, while leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 record.
“You watch the tape; it speaks volumes. He’s improved significantly,” Kubiak remarked. “He seized the opportunity there and excelled. He’s doing an excellent job with us here.”
Such commendation underscores what is clear: Darnold is the starting quarterback for Seattle. Coach Mike McDonald echoed this sentiment in an interview with Kiroam on Tuesday when asked if anything besides Darnold’s injuries could stop him from starting in the season opener on September 7th.
“Sam is our starting quarterback,” McDonald confirmed. “We have great confidence in him. He performs remarkably well.”
Darnold expressed admiration for fellow quarterbacks in the meeting room, Jalen Millow and Drew Rock. In April, during the NFL Draft, McDonald reached out to inform Darnold of the team’s intention to select Millow from Alabama in the third round.
This was a sign of respect towards the veteran QB who was signed just a month prior.
“Effective communication is key, ultimately,” Darnold remarked. “But it was nice of him to reach out and share that with me.”
Darnold has learned to stay calm during his experiences in two major markets. He played at a university in Southern California and was then drafted by the New York Jets, where he faced criticism as a perceived bust. He later transitioned to Carolina and San Francisco before revitalizing his career with Minnesota.
Now, he arrives in Seattle as the leader and face of the franchise. While adapting to Kubiak’s system has eased his transition, Kubiak made it clear that Seattle’s offensive strategies are distinctive without revealing any confidential tactics.
Darnold is focused on absorbing as much information as he can, and for the moment, he’s keeping his golf clubs set aside.
“I’m learning a lot right now,” Darnold shared. “It’s about building rapport with everyone and taking it one day at a time.”
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Source: apnews.com