Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has climbed to No. 21 on the NFL Top 100 players of 2026 list, earning a career-best ranking voted on by players from around the league according to an announcement released by the NFL on Friday morning.
Sam Darnold Climbs to No. 21 on NFL Top 100 List
According to Seahawks Wire, Sam Darnold secured the No. 21 spot after making his initial debut on the annual ranking at No. 72 the previous year. The ranking is compiled through votes from players across the league to evaluate their peers. Darnold’s new placement follows a strong campaign in Seattle where he recorded 4,048 passing yards—ranking fifth-most in the NFL—along with 25 passing touchdowns, according to Seahawks Wire data.
Postseason Success and Regular Season Context
Sam Darnold proved his standout 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings was not a fluke or merely a product of head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system, according to Seahawks Wire reporting. While Darnold led the league in turnovers during the regular season, he cleaned up his ball security during the playoffs. According to Seahawks Wire, the Seahawks became the first team in NFL history to complete a Super Bowl championship run without turning the ball over once in the postseason.
Seahawks Representation on the NFL Top 100
Prior to Friday morning’s release of the latest batch of players, the reigning Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks had only one player represented on the list: linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who came in at No. 97 according to Seahawks Wire. Darnold’s inclusion at No. 21 marks the second Seahawks player named to the annual player-voted list, reflecting high esteem from fellow players and opponents across the league.
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