Mike MacDonald’s second year as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks has been remarkable, with the team already matching last season’s win total (10) with four games yet to play. MacDonald and the Seahawks’ front office revamped the team by letting go of franchise cornerstones like quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf, but the changes have been overwhelmingly positive. The Seahawks showed immense faith in Sam Darnold, signing him to a three-year, $100 million contract, and their confidence in Jaxson Smith-Njigba has been rewarded, as the receiver currently leads the NFL in yards with 1,428, nearly 250 more than second-place Puka Nacua.
Darnold Breaks Brady and Manning’s Multi-Team Victory Streak
Despite being one of only four teams with 10 or more wins, the Seahawks still need to finish the year strong to secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2022. It appears that under Sam Darnold, that negative streak will be broken. Since joining the Vikings last year, Darnold has proven he knows how to win games, in fact, he has just broken a Tom Brady record for the most wins by a quarterback in consecutive seasons with different teams.
Darnold has accumulated 24 victories dating back to last season. Brady had 23 wins across consecutive seasons with different teams, 12 in his final year with the Patriots and 11 in his first year with Tampa, the same year he won his last Super Bowl.
Peyton Manning is also on the list with 23 wins (10 in his final year with the Colts and 13 in his first with the Broncos). The key difference is that Manning missed a full season due to injury between the two teams, while both Brady and Darnold accomplished their streaks in consecutive weeks.
Can Darnold Challenge Brady’s Best Two-Year Mark?
If the Seahawks win their remaining four games, Darnold would tie Brady’s overall record for the most wins by a quarterback over any two consecutive seasons. Brady achieved 28 wins during the 2006-2007 seasons, a run that included an undefeated regular season.
Darnold’s path to tying that record is challenging, as it includes games against teams with winning records who, like the Seahawks, are fighting for playoff spots. First up are their last two home games against the Colts and the Rams, the Rams game could potentially decide the division. They then visit Carolina and close the year against the 49ers. Can Darnold make more history this season?