Sam Darnold’s injury (Getty Images)
On the fifth play of the 2026 NFL season, quarterback Sam Darnold took a sack from former Seahawk Dre’Mont Jones on third-and-6 and came up visibly limping. He recorded 323 completions for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions during the 2025 regular season, and guided the Seahawks all the way to a Super Bowl title over these same Patriots. Only two teams this century have managed it: the 2003-04 Patriots and the 2022-23 Chiefs.
Seattle’s Super Bowl banner had barely been unveiled at Lumen Field when the night took a sharp, uncomfortable turn. He left the field without assistance but was soon inside the blue medical tent, and moments later was escorted to the locker room. The Seahawks listed him as questionable to return with a hip injury. Drew Lock took over. Just like that, the mood at Lumen Field changed entirely. This is where the real concern sits. Darnold is not just a quarterback. He is the spine of everything Seattle built last season. Losing him, even temporarily, reshuffles everything. It is also worth noting that Seattle is trying to become just the tenth team in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Darnold’s health is central to whether that conversation stays realistic.