Just two seasons ago, Sam Darnold appeared to be fully in his “journeyman backup” phase. After rough stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 to serve as Brock Purdy’s backup. He did the same again in 2024 to mentor J.J. McCarthy with the Minnesota Vikings. When McCarthy went down with a preseason injury, he stepped up to lead Minnesota to its most regular season wins in franchise history (14).
It’s safe to say Darnold understands the value of a good QB2. Fortunately, he’s got one who has nearly 30 games worth of starting experience — including a handful of appearances for a pre-Darnold Seahawks team in 2023.
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The Seahawks’ backup quarterback is Drew Lock
Sep 21, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) throws the ball during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Lock was briefly in consideration as a franchise quarterback, even after he slipped from Day 1 draft consideration and into the second round. That’s where the former Missouri star landed with the Denver Broncos. After a 4-1 record as a rookie starter, he went 4-12 over the next two seasons and washed away any hopes of hanging on to the Broncos’ top role. He was traded to Seattle in 2022 and re-signed in 2023, going 1-1 over a pair of starts while playing some effective-but-forgettable football.
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Lock spent 2024 as a backup with the New York Giants. He returned to the West Coast in 2025, inking a two-year, $5 million contract with the Seahawks. He’s only thrown three regular season passes this season, instead spending most of his time as a kneel-down expert late in games.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Who is Sam Darnold’s backup quarterback?
