SEATTLE — Six months after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, Sam Darnold let out a quiet chuckle. The question came Thursday, five days into training camp at the Seahawks' facility in Renton, Washington: Did he feel the narratives about him had finally faded? For years, Darnold carried the weight of being a bust—a former No. 3 overall pick who changed teams as often as playbooks. His first season in Seattle marked his fifth stop in eight years. Yet here he was, the quarterback of the defending Super Bowl champions, answering questions with a calm that belied his turbulent past.

"I don't allow myself to really pay attention to anything like that," Darnold said. "If I do catch wind of it, I have my process on how to handle that. It's just about handling my process and doing it my way, so that when I get out there, it's not about what I've done or what I'm going to do, it's about what I'm doing right now." That mindset has carried him through a career that once seemed destined for mediocrity. Now, with a ring on his finger and a second straight Pro Bowl appearance under his belt, Darnold is focused on the task at hand: defending the crown.

A key part of that effort is adapting to a new offensive system. First-year coordinator Brian Fleury, who spent the previous four seasons as the 49ers' tight ends coach, brings a familiar face to the huddle. Darnold was San Francisco's backup in 2023, and the two forged a bond built on consistency. "Whether it's a good play or bad play, his mentality never changes out there on the field," Darnold reflected. "He was always very even keel. Now, getting to spend a lot more time with him as the offensive coordinator, it's fun to watch him work every single day." Fleury replaced Klint Kubiak, who left to become head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Darnold is also working to sharpen his rapport with wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, who signed a three-year, $51 million contract in March. Shaheed, who split last season between Seattle and New Orleans, posted 59 catches for 687 yards and two touchdowns. The two Southern California natives spent much of the offseason training together at Saddleback College in Orange County. "He's a friendly receiver to throw to," Darnold said. "I'm looking forward to him continuing to get more reps and build that chemistry so that we can see him more often getting catches and doing his thing at the receiver position." Shaheed's speed and versatility could be a key weapon as the Seahawks look to repeat.

Fans will get an inside look at that chemistry—and the rest of Seattle's camp—when HBO's "Hard Knocks" premieres this summer. As the face of the reigning champions, Darnold expects to be a focal point of the show. It's an experience he's ready for, entering his ninth NFL season. While he doesn't dwell on his journey, others are happy to highlight it. Coach Mike Macdonald didn't hold back when praising his quarterback's approach. "The thing I appreciate about Sam—and you can't speak for everybody—but just every rep is a rep," Macdonald said. "If it's in the quarterback room and they're going over the script, he treats that rep the same as he does here, if it's practice online or we're in a game. It's all the same. That's the mental approach that we want all of our guys to take."

Darnold's path to this moment has been anything but straight. Drafted by the New York Jets in 2018, he struggled through three seasons before stints with the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, and eventually the Seahawks. Each stop brought renewed scrutiny. But he never lost faith in his own ability. Now, as he leads a team that is both celebrated and hunted, Darnold remains grounded. The narratives that once defined him have faded into the background, replaced by a singular focus on the present. The Seahawks open their title defense in September, and Darnold intends to be ready—not by reflecting on the past, but by taking it one rep at a time.