The 49ers will now be facing Sam Darnold twice a year for at least the next three seasons, and he identified Brock Purdy as a big reason for him getting that opportunity.
Sam Darnold shredded the 49ers’ defense last season for the Minnesota Vikings. Now San Francisco will have to try to figure out how to stop the same from happening twice a year.
Darnold will be the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks after signing a three-year deal to reunite with former 49ers passing game specialist Klint Kubiak, the pair having worked together during San Francisco’s Super Bowl run in the 2023 season. Darnold was Brock Purdy’s backup, starting one game in Week 18 and playing sparingly in relief.
In Week 2 of last season, Darnold threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns with an interception — a spectacular play by Fred Warner — as he and Vikings beat Purdy and the 49ers.
Darnold went on to produce his finest season as a pro, racking up 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns with 12 interceptions, his efforts clearly convincing Seattle he is the man to help them assume superiority in the NFC West and prevent the 49ers from getting back to the top.
Though his decision to sign in Seattle makes him an arch rival of the 49ers, Darnold was quick to thank Purdy for playing a critical role in him realizing the promise so many saw when he was picked in the first round in 2018.
Asked about his improvements in not turning the ball over, Darnold told his introductory press conference:
“I think you learn from experience, good or bad. I learned a ton being in New York. Learned a ton being in Carolina. Learned a ton obviously going to San Francisco, and Klint (Kubiak) was a huge part of that. Just kind of understanding, okay, like — and I really thank Brock a ton, Brock Purdy, for just his style of play and how he described his style as like, we’ve got a ton of great play-makers on offense. Like my job is just to play point guard and get the ball in their hands and let them go do great things with the rock. When I changed my thought process as a quarterback to kind of just getting the ball in my guys’ hands, that’s really kind of where it unlocked for me a little bit. And then obviously the coaching I got in Minnesota, you know, it was an incredible experience. KO (Kevin O’Connell), Josh (McCown), Wes (Phillips), Grant, all those guys; I can go on and on, and obviously the players we had in Minnesota as well. It’s a credit to everything, man. I can’t necessarily point to one thing, but my entire journey has been about growing as a person and as a player, and I’m just so, so thankful that it’s led me to this point here in Seattle.”
Darnold’s interception rate of 2.2 percent last season was the lowest of his career. The 49ers, though, were able to force him into at least one mistake. The challenge for San Francisco now is to ensure it has a defensive front that can take advantage of Seattle’s weaknesses on the offensive line to bring about consistent errors from the former 49ers backup.
The 49ers are at risk of Purdy’s work in aiding Darnold’s career transformation coming back to haunt them. A successful reconstruction of the front seven will be crucial to stopping that from happening.