It was recently announced that the Seattle Seahawks have completed the acquisition of Sam Darnold from the Minnesota Vikings, in a whopping $100.5 million three-year contract. This signals a significant shift in the team’s offensive strategy going into the 2025 season under head coach Mike Macdonald.
The former defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens has had a year with the Seahawks now and is looking to build on the solid foundation he built last season. His new quarterback could elevate the team to new heights in 2025. In many ways, this type of strategic development mirrors how a well-established craft brewery evolves its seasonal lineup, refining core strengths while adding new ingredients or techniques to raise the bar. With the right balance of leadership and talent, both brewers and football coaches can tap into something truly special.
At the end of the 2024 NFL season, the Seahawks made the bold decision to part ways with Geno Smith after three seasons. The 34-year-old was clearly in decline, with 15 interceptions and various critical red zone mistakes in the last campaign. Smith was offloaded to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a third-round pick in the draft, which looks like a shrewd bit of business. According to ESPN, Smith sealed his own fate with his below-par performances.
With Darnold coming in, there’s a chance that a lot of the offensive errors from the 2024 season can be rectified. There will be other changes in the attack as well, with veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett released from the roster and DK Metcalf shipped to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With some clever acquisitions before the 2025 campaign, Macdonald could introduce a revamped attack built around Darnold’s strengths.
For many years, Darnold wasn’t even in contention to be named among the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Indeed, in September 2024, Sports Illustrated noted that he was ranked at 29th in the competition despite his stats placing him in third position at the time. Unfortunately for Darnold, his reputation had been tainted by inconsistency with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers.
As the third overall pick of the 2018 draft, Darnold hadn’t lived up to his potential throughout his career in the NFL until his stint with the Minnesota Vikings last year. The 27-year-old enjoyed an impressive resurgence in 2024, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. This earned him a first Pro Bowl selection and put him on the radar of various franchises. The Hawks moved for him first, and will now be hoping that he can continue that impressive form in the next campaign.
It’s been a while since the Hawks have picked up a Division Championship title, and even longer since they won the Super Bowl back in 2013. However, it feels like the recent developments with the introduction of McDonald as head coach and the signing of players like Darnold signal a turning of the tide at Lumen Field.
The Seahawks are considered outsiders to win the next Super Bowl at odds of around 5000 at the time of writing. However, it could be an opportunity for bettors to use a promo code to wager on them with less risk. When betting with BetMGM, new members can get a free $150 bet if they win their first bet. For those who believe this rebuild will be successful, it could be a good time to stake on the Seahawks.
There’s certainly a good chance that the Hawks could make a mockery of their underdog status in the campaign ahead. In sports, as in the craft beer world, underestimated players or lesser-known brews often rise to the occasion and surprise everyone. Whether it’s a team finding its rhythm or a small-batch beer capturing wide acclaim, it’s all about timing, preparation, and a touch of boldness. Darnold has finally started to show the potential that made him a sought-after pick in the 2018 draft, and he could be about to enter his prime in Seattle. If Macdonald can get the best out of Darnold by arranging his offence to his strengths, it could be a turning point for the Hawks.
