Sam Darnold walked into the regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers with an individual stake, in addition to playoff positioning that was on the line for the team. Apart from securing the No. 1 seed for the Seahawks, the QB also had the opportunity to finish the game $2 million richer.
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As per reports, Darnold’s contract includes four separate $500,000 incentives tied to statistical benchmarks: Eclipsing 4,000 passing yards, throwing 28 touchdown passes, finishing the season with a completion percentage of at least 67.5 percent, and posting a passer rating of 100 or higher.
Against the Niners, Darnold had a chance to hit all four, entering the game with 3,850 yards, 25 touchdowns, a 67.2 percent completion rate, and a 99.2 passer rating. However, while the Seahawks accomplished their biggest team goal by defeating the 49ers 13-3, Darnold’s bonus haul fell short of the maximum.
On Saturday night, the 28-year-old finished 20-of-26 for 198 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, good for a 97.9 passer rating. That performance allowed him to cross the 4,000-yard mark on the season, triggering a $500,000 incentive. He also boosted his season-long completion percentage above 67.5%, activating another $500,000 bonus.
However, two benchmarks slipped through his fingers. He couldn’t reach the 28-TD threshold as Seattle’s offensive approach never gave him that opportunity.
The Seahawks leaned heavily on their ground game, finishing with 180 rushing yards and scoring their lone touchdown on a Zach Charbonnet run early in the game. So, Darnold finished with 25 passing touchdowns for the season, missing out on $500,000.
He also fell just short of the passer rating incentive, as despite playing clean, mistake-free football, his 97.9 rating wasn’t enough to push his season average to 100. Darnold collected $1 million, but missed out on the full $2 million he had in sight.
Sam Darnold will receive $2 million in incentives if he does the following tonight against the 49ers:
• Throw three passing touchdowns ($500k)
• Throw for 150 passing yards ($500k)
• Reach a 100 passer rating ($500k)
• Reach a 67.5% completion percentage ($500k) pic.twitter.com/3w06QTi6Fh— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 3, 2026
Of course, focusing solely on the money would have been selfish and counterproductive for Darnold. Fortunately for the Seahawks faithful, he chose victory over the moolah. Darnold’s game management was a major reason why Seattle walked out of Santa Clara with a 13-3 win.
He protected the football, extended drives, and made timely throws while allowing Seattle’s defense and rushing attack to dictate the flow of the game. That approach paid off, as the Seahawks clinched the NFC West title and secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC, earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, along with a first-round bye.
In many ways, the performance mirrored Darnold’s season as a whole. It was efficient, controlled, and with a team-first approach. He finished the regular season with back-to-back 14-win campaigns across two franchises — a feat previously achieved only by Tom Brady (for the Patriots). Darnold now enters the postseason with Seattle positioned as one of the top Super Bowl contenders.
More importantly, there’s also more money still on the line. Darnold has another $2 million in postseason incentives available, including bonuses for playoff wins and a Super Bowl appearance. If Seattle makes a deep run, the financial upside remains significant.
