Ahead of the Seattle Seahawks’ crucial game against the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Cowherd has offered some advice regarding Sam Darnold. The quarterback is leading the Seahawks to their first playoff appearance since 2022 and probably their first NFC West title since 2020.

In the last two seasons, Darnold has established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s become the fifth quarterback in NFL history to win 13 games in back-to-back seasons, doing it with the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks. Cowherd sees this commendable height as an inspiration.

“Sam Darnold, for all young people struggling, is proof you can bomb your first gig and still win big,” Cowherd said. “Quarterbacks don’t fail in a vacuum. They fail inside environments. In the end, maybe the best piece of advice is the oldest piece of advice: never quit. Be relentless. Believe in yourself. Stay the course.

“Because the idea that there’s one clean path to happiness or success or becoming a great NFL quarterback, that’s just nonsense. Sam Darnold now officially joins Favre, Brady, Manning and Aaron Rodgers as quarterbacks who went back-to-back 13-game seasons, and he did it with two different teams.”

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Darnold was drafted by the New York Jets as the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. However, his three seasons with the franchise were not much to write about. He also had a stint with the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers before finding his feet with the Minnesota Vikings last season.

Colin Cowherd uses Sam Darnold to explain the quarterback dynamics in the NFL

Drafting a quarterback in the early rounds of the NFL draft requires a lot of analysis and input to get the right fit. For the players, it comes with a lot of expectations. Colin Cowherd cited Sam Darnold’s story in explaining the dynamics of quarterbacks entering the league.

“I like Sam Darnold, and so did you, but many of you bailed,” Cowherd said. “I stuck with him because for me, it wasn’t about armed talent or mechanics. It was always about location, location, location. Most elite quarterbacks don’t float down with a golden parachute. They land in rubble, bad rosters, bad timing.

“Quarterbacks shouldn’t be defined by how they start, only how they survive. I think about that a lot. When parents come up to me with kids who want to be broadcasters and ask for advice. I usually dodge the question, but maybe I shouldn’t. The best advice is there’s no single piece of advice.”

Sam Darnold is looking to lead the Seahawks to the NFC West title and earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over the 49ers, which has the same goal, on Saturday night. Beyond that, the Seahawks are considered one of the favorites for the Super Bowl, and the quarterback is aiming to see that happen.