See how the Seahawks became the favorites for the Super Bowl

When the Seattle Seahawks officially introduced Sam Darnold last March, the situation at quarterback had just turned upside down.

In front of the media, general manager John Schneider was still trying to explain an unexpected turn of events: the departure of Geno Smith to the Raiders and the arrival of a new face at the helm of the offense. The decision was swift, almost abrupt, following a short-lived effort to extend Smith before concluding a deal six days later.

The move immediately repositioned management's priorities. With Mike MacDonald freshly installed as head coach, Seattle turned to Darnold, free after a transformative season in Minnesota. It seemed an ambitious gamble, but ten months on, he is among the most decisive choices for a team that finished the campaign at the top of the NFC with a 14-3 record.

Darnold had a mixed season: capable of raising his game, but also guilty of a high number of turnovers. Despite losing 20 balls, he still earned a Pro Bowl selection and achieved the rare feat of stringing together two 14-win seasons with two different teams – an accomplishment so far shared only with Tom Brady.

At 28, the former first-round pick has justified Seattle's three-year, $100.5 million investment.

Darnold's discipline key to playoff success

The Seahawks will enter the playoffs as favorites to win Super Bowl LX, a scenario unthinkable a year ago. Their path, however, will depend on Darnold's ability to limit the mistakes that sometimes held the offense back in the second half of the season.

Seattle can't afford to waste possessions against opponents as explosive as the 49ers, whom they'll host in the divisional round.

As for Geno Smith, his departure remains a central part of this story. Despite a positive record as a starter, the organization felt the time had come to turn the page. The result, so far, is that the Seahawks are right.

This content was created with the help of AI.