Ryan Kalil backed Sam Darnold years before Seattle encore

Darnold was a key reason Kalil unretired in 2019

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 271 min read

Sam Darnold always had a believer in @ryankalil 🤝 @JamieErdahl | @Seahawks https://t.co/whZSg7K2Rq Via @gmfb on X

What happened: The former center played seven games during their lone season together in New York. He later argued that the quarterback needed more freedom to develop.

Why it matters: Darnold enters 2026 as Seattle's established starter after a career spanning five NFL teams. Kalil's support predates the turnaround that carried Darnold to Super Bowl LX.

By the numbers: In 2019, Kalil appeared in seven games. Darnold started 13, going 7-6 while completing 61.9% of his passes for 3,024 yards, 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

What to watch: Seattle's 2026 opener will provide the next test of Darnold's encore.

Sources

@gmfb 2026-07-27T14:13:01.915858+00:00

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