SEATTLE SEAHAWKS MEDIA CONFERENCE

November 9, 2025

Sam Darnold

Seahawks 44, Cardinals 22

SAM DARNOLD: Obviously it's a great team win. I thought offensively we were really efficient in the first half. Second half got the run game going a little bit. Third quarter was a little sloppy with the turnovers and we've got to clean that up obviously.

But to be able to end of game on our terms in four-minute situation, running the football out, that's how you want to end every single game.

Q. What can you say about the way you started offensively the last two games?

SAM DARNOLD: Yeah. Again, I think just the detail that we put in throughout the week is what makes it happen, our offensive line getting things started with the run game.

You know, being able to open up that play-action pass game. The drop-back pass game I felt like I was pretty good as well. Third downs, again, converting some of those third and mediums was huge today, especially early in the game.

And then I can't say enough about our defense, the way our defense comes out there every game it seems like. I feel like they do a really good job and I feel very just lucky to play with a team like this and a defense like this as well.

Q. Sam, when a center goes out for you and you're having to find out how to switch mid-game, how difficult is that? What's the process like? Obviously had the exchange there. What do you look to do to clean up in a situation like that?

SAM DARNOLD: Yeah, just got to continue to work together, get as many snaps as possible. Even before that we were getting a ton of snaps together. We got to clean that up obviously.

Q. You mentioned the run game, to get up to 200 yards before the kneel-downs, really run the ball in the second half, I know this offense has really wanted to run the ball all season, but to get it going like that, how big is that for you guys?

SAM DARNOLD: Yeah, it's huge any time you can get the run game going. It's obviously huge for our offense the way that we want to play. So credit like I said to the offensive line, but not only those guys. The tight ends, the running backs, the receivers for doing their job in the run game.

Q. There was one time with Shaheed here, one glance.

SAM DARNOLD: Yeah.

Q. Did you notice defenses playing your pass game differently because of him?

SAM DARNOLD: I think just having Shaheed out there, you know, it poses a threat of him potentially getting the ball on the sweep like I said. Earlier in the week I think I said that.

And then being able to go over the top with him as well with his speed. You can just feel it out there. It's a different gear that he can hit.

Q. Jaxon getting to a 1000 yards now in the season already at this point this year, is there anything that surprises you at this point in terms of the accolades he's already racking up?

SAM DARNOLD: No. I think, again, it's a credit to the work he's put in, not only this offseason, but throughout his entire career and his whole life, you know, working to get to this point. Knowing him, I know that he's just going to continue to put in that work and stay hungry that way.

Q. How cool was it to see George Holani get that touchdown?

SAM DARNOLD: Yeah, it was awesome, man. It was great to see George get in there, especially get that touchdown. We all know how talented George is. I mean, returning kickoffs all the time for us, few runs that he had in the preseason, you know, he just always -- he's a guy that you can depend on. He knows what he's doing not only in the run game, but protection as well.

Q. Are you concerned about the ball security? That's the center, first snap, and maybe a freak, the guy hitting a glancing blow as you lost the ball, or is that a concern?

SAM DARNOLD: Yeah, for me personally, I got to continue to get the ball out. I think that's a big thing. I felt like I could have gotten the ball out a little bit quicker on that pass that got deflected there, or the fumble as my hand was going back.

So I can always do better that way. Again, those -- that's part of the game at the same time. Those things are going to happen. You don't want them to happen but they are going to happen sometimes.

Then, again, the deflection off the helmet, the hand, I don't know what and was exactly, but those things happen in football and it's just how fast can you move on and go to the next play.

Q. The big play to Cooper Kupp looked for a minute like you were going to run it and obviously worked out to throw it.

SAM DARNOLD: Uh-huh.

Q. What's that decision making like in that moment?

SAM DARNOLD: Yeah, he's a lot faster than me, so get the ball out to that guy that can run faster than me and he's further down the field. It is a tough decision though. Sometimes.

But in that -- he was so wide open and I knew he was going to be able to go make some YAC, so just was able to get the ball out to him.

Q. It looks like you took a little bit of a step back before you threw that. Being cognizant of the line of scrimmage.

SAM DARNOLD: Yeah.

Q. Is that something that in real time can be kind of tricky to try to navigate there and maybe being precautionary?

SAM DARNOLD: For sure. In certain situations when I have a ton of space and I see a guy is wide open sometimes I'll give a little peek and check the sticks.

A quarterback can get caught in a tough situation that way sometimes with understanding where the sticks are.

Again, that's just part of the situational awareness that I've been working on.

Q. When you see DeMarcus have a pair of touchdowns on the same play with Tyrese, what your reaction when you see those play out back to back like that?

SAM DARNOLD: Yeah, it's just, all right, we can sit back down on the bench and get ready to go here. The defense get back out there and maybe force another turnover.

Again, like I said, our defense is doing a great job and to see D Law and T Knight kind of play the way they have been, you know, and it's not just today, it's been showing up throughout the entire season.

It was just a matter of when, and today was their day and I was so happy for both of them.