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The Seattle Seahawks signed their contract with quarterback Sam Darnold just under a year ago, and they could cut him after the big game.
The Seattle Seahawks have nothing to complain about when it comes to their first-year quarterback, Sam Darnold, who is taking them to the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 8, amid the team’s 14-3 record. But, the NFL is packed with strange scenarios, and it’s being suggested that the team has the option to actually cut him after the big game, based on his contract.
Following the Seahawks’ 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, January 25, Darnold admitted that he “didn’t play my best football.”
“We got a lot of work to do there. At the end of the day we won and the team in that locker room, all the guys in that locker room, we work so hard for moments like this,” Darnold told reporters after the game. “Obviously, like I said, we got a lot of work to do and we’re going to continue to push and get better, but those guys in the locker room deserve a win like that, and against really, really good team.”
Darnold added, “You know, the defense they have over there, I have a ton of respect for them. Obviously with (Matthew) Stafford, what he’s been able to do not only his whole career but today and this season has been unbelievable. Very happy for our guys.”
Why the Seattle Seahawks Would Consider Cutting Sam Darnold or Not Extending His Contract
So, the Seattle Seahawks cutting Darnold may seem like crazy talk, but in a Saturday, February 7, piece for EPSN, NFL analysts Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano explain why it would be a consideration.
“As he gears up for the Super Bowl, remember that Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has a $15 million 2026 roster bonus that becomes fully guaranteed February 13, along with $2.5 million of his 2026 salary,” Fowler and Graziano explain. “The Seahawks are rigid with their veteran contract structures and will not guarantee money outside of the first year, so when he signed with Seattle last offseason, Darnold’s only guaranteed money was his $32 million signing bonus and $5.5 million in 2025 salary and bonuses.”
Darnold has also notched $3 million in incentives and will add another $1 million to that number with a win Sunday, according to research from Over the Cap. But, as Fowler and Graziano explain, the Seahawks will be forced to make a Darnold decision immediately following the Super Bowl.
“If dissatisfied,” they note, “the Seahawks could cut him before Feb. 13 and owe him no more money.”
The Real Sam Darnold Question for the Seattle Seahawks
That’s a strong statement. Why would a team cut their franchise quarterback who just took them to the Super Bowl? Fowler and Graziano agree that it’s not likely to happen, noting, “Of course, with Seattle playing in the Super Bowl in his first season as its QB, all of this has turned out to be a no-brainer.”
They add, “The Seahawks will happily pay him that roster bonus and the rest of his non-guaranteed salary for a total of $27.5 million in 2026.”
But, the two bring up a good point that the Seattle Seahawks have been reluctant to extend players’ contracts with two years left on them, so it’s a question whether they’ll do that following the game.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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