What happened: A revisit of one of Sam Darnold's best performances from the 2025 season is making the rounds, right as he heads into 2026 as the same Darnold set to run it back in Seattle. The clip is a reminder of the ceiling he flashed last year, not proof he has locked it in for good.

Why it matters: Darnold's career has been defined by hot stretches sandwiched between drop-offs, a pattern that showed up again during his rollercoaster 2025 season. One highlight-reel game doesn't erase that history, it just raises the bar he has to clear across a full 2026 slate to be taken seriously as a top-tier starter.