In a surprising twist, Sam Darnold, the quarterback who recently led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory, has been ranked dead last in ESPN's list of the top 100 NFL players for 2026. This ranking raises eyebrows, especially considering Darnold's impressive achievements, including a 14-3 record and an NFC Championship title.
The list, compiled by a dozen ESPN analysts and reporters, focuses on projections for the upcoming season rather than past accomplishments. This approach has resulted in Darnold's notable achievements being overshadowed, as he sits at the bottom of the rankings despite his recent success.
Brady Henderson, a beat writer for the Seahawks, commented on Darnold's placement, suggesting that it reflects both his accomplishments and his shortcomings. "No quarterback has more wins over the past two seasons than Darnold, who has 31 with the Vikings and Seahawks," Henderson noted. However, he pointed out that Darnold's league-high 20 turnovers in 2025 contributed to his low ranking. Despite these turnovers, Darnold finished the last four games of the season without any, indicating potential for improvement.
ESPN's forecast for Darnold in the upcoming season includes 4,013 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. While these numbers may be satisfactory for many teams, they seem modest for a reigning champion quarterback. The context of Darnold's career shows that he has struggled with consistency, but 2026 presents a unique opportunity for him to establish continuity, as he returns to the same team as its unquestioned starter for the first time since 2020.
Darnold's performance has been noteworthy; he achieved a 14-3 record as Seattle's starter, mirroring his success in Minnesota. This feat of back-to-back 14-win seasons has only been accomplished by one other quarterback in NFL history: Tom Brady, who did so in 2003 and 2004. During the regular season, Darnold threw for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also facing 14 interceptions. His top receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, had a standout season with 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Super Bowl itself was not a showcase of offensive fireworks, as Darnold completed 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown in a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots. The Seahawks' defense and running game played pivotal roles in securing the championship. However, Darnold's postseason performance was significantly stronger; he led the Seahawks to a decisive victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round and threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the NFC Championship against the Rams, all while avoiding turnovers during the playoff stretch.
The decision to rank a Super Bowl-winning quarterback behind 99 other players suggests that Darnold's mistakes are being emphasized more than his successes. As the Seahawks gear up to defend their title, they will kick off the season against the Patriots on September 9 at Lumen Field, hoping to build on their recent success and prove that Darnold's ranking does not reflect his true capabilities.
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