RENTON, Wash. — Sam Darnold signed a three-year, $100 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, and he's making no bones about it: his time in Minnesota made the lucrative deal possible.

"I'm so grateful," Darnold said Friday outside the team's indoor practice facility. "I keep using that word, but it's true. I'm grateful for my time there and to come into a situation like this, with the coaching staff that we have and our locker room, just how close-knit and how tight we are. It's such a good situation. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else now."

The quarterback's gratitude makes practical sense. The Seahawks sit at 8-3 and in prime playoff position, while the Vikings have collapsed to 4-7 after losing five of their last six games—a stark contrast to their 14-3 record last season with Darnold leading the offense.

The Minnesota Implosion

The Vikings' downfall centers on second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who replaced Darnold in the offseason. McCarthy has struggled mightily with injuries and performance, becoming one of the worst quarterbacks in football when healthy. The result: Minnesota's offense ranks among the league's worst.

McCarthy is ruled out for Sunday's game due to a concussion. Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will start in his place.

Despite the competitive circumstances, Darnold expressed sympathy for his successor. "It sucks when someone gets hurt. I would never wish that on anyone," he said. "We were close for sure last year with all the time we spent together. I created a great relationship with J.J. while I was there."

System Continuity and Coaching Chemistry

Darnold's move to Seattle wasn't just about money—it was about familiarity. The quarterback sought to continue running the Mike Shanahan-based West Coast offense, a system he first learned with the Jets and later mastered in San Francisco under Kyle Shanahan.

Working with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, whom Darnold knows from his 49ers days, sealed the deal.

"Me and Klint have a great relationship," Darnold said. "Just his personality—he's got a very dry sense of humor, and I think we relate on that level. We're very similar. No BS is the best way to describe it. We just kind of go about our business. If something needs to be done, we're going to get it done. If something needs to be said, we'll say it. But we like to work, and we love football."

Strong Numbers, Lingering Questions

Darnold has backed up his nine-figure contract with elite production. He leads the league in yards per attempt (9.3), ranks fourth in passer rating (106), and is tied for sixth in passing touchdowns.

The Seahawks rank second in scoring, and Darnold's primary target is Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the NFL's top receiver with 1,301 receiving yards.

But the picture is muddied. Darnold threw four interceptions in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams earlier this season, echoing late-season struggles that plagued him in Minnesota. He's amassed 10 interceptions on the year, tied for fourth-most in the league, and Seattle is tied for second-most turnovers with 20.

Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones defended his quarterback after the Rams debacle: "Sam has had us in every game. When you build a relationship with a bunch of guys, and you are as close to guys as you say you are, it's no one person's fault, in any situation. He's our quarterback. I'm going to be there for my quarterback, to have his back and protect him."

Coach's Take: Consistency Over Perfection

Head coach Mike Macdonald praised Darnold's even-keeled demeanor—neither overconfident after big wins nor rattled after bad performances.

"I think we as a collective made too big of a deal of it," Macdonald said about the Rams loss. "We had a game where we didn't hit our marks. We made some tough decisions, put the ball in jeopardy, and you've just got to move on. It's really that simple."

He added: "After the Washington game, the guy has like a perfect passer rating, throws for four touchdowns, we're on fire and he's the same guy the next week. It's not like he's some kind of superstar or diva that we can't talk to anymore. He's just the same guy every day. So, the consistency of his approach and his personality, it's not easy to do."

Sunday's Test: Facing Flores and the Blitz

The Vikings' defense, coordinated by Brian Flores, will challenge Darnold. Minnesota blitzes at an NFL-high 48.5% rate.

Against the blitz this season, Darnold has completed 64% of his passes for 976 yards, with five touchdowns and five interceptions for a 94.0 passer rating.

Darnold believes his practice reps against the Vikings last season will help. "Going against Flores in camp, I think one thing that will help me is personnel," he said. "It's being able to play against Harry (Harrison Smith) in training camp and see his body movement and if he's going to pressure or maybe bail out. The same thing with (Justin) Metellus. Having experience in training camp situations with them can definitely help me."