Sam Darnold Sees Little Friction in Brian Fleury’s Seahawks Offense

The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks head into their 2026 title defense with one clear unknown on offense: how first-time playcaller Brian Fleury will operate the system that just delivered a Lombardi Trophy.

Early returns from OTAs suggest the transition has been anything but disruptive. Quarterback Sam Darnold, speaking to reporters Wednesday after practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, described a process that feels more like refinement than overhaul.

“Thankfully it hasn’t been too much of a transition,” Darnold said. “It’s a lot of the same stuff with Fleury obviously coming from San Francisco, but a couple different wrinkles here and there. So it’s been good that way to be able to get some of that same verbiage but just a couple of different wrinkles.”

The comfort level traces directly to shared roots. Fleury spent the past seven seasons with the 49ers in multiple roles, most recently as tight ends coach and run game coordinator. He joins a Seahawks staff that already operated a Shanahan-influenced scheme under Klint Kubiak, who left for the Raiders’ head coaching job shortly after Seattle’s Super Bowl LX victory over the Patriots in February.

Familiarity Runs Deeper Than Scheme Overlap

Darnold has bounced between systems more than most starting quarterbacks. The 28-year-old has worked with seven different offensive coordinators across six seasons. Yet the current setup stands out for its continuity rather than chaos.

“Going all the way back to Carolina with McAdoo, a little bit of a transition to Shanahan’s system in San Francisco, and then we did a lot of the same things in San Francisco to Minnesota. Minnesota coming here was back to the Shanahan kind of verbiage with Klint. And then this year it’s more of the same. So it’s been really good to have that kind of familiarity, not only for myself but for the other guys as well.”

That shared language matters on a roster still riding the chemistry built during last year’s championship run. Offensive linemen and skill players already understand the core protections and route concepts. Fleury can layer his wrinkles without tearing down the foundation.

Fleury Brings Command and High Standards

Darnold has been equally impressed by the man installing the offense. He highlighted Fleury’s presence during install periods and the way he balances run-game and pass-game details.

“Fleury has been great. His command, his presence, the way that he installs it with the run game, pass game, his command over the entire system has been incredible. To be able to learn each other, kind of what he’s thinking in calling it and just continuing to get a feel for each other, it’s been really good so far.”

The quarterback also noted Fleury’s stoic demeanor and uncompromising standards — traits that echo Kubiak’s approach. “He’s really stoic. I think that’s one thing that really stands out. His standard’s really high for our group, not only for us but for himself as well.”

That consistency helps a veteran group stay sharp during the voluntary phase of the offseason program. No one is relearning the entire language. Instead, they are sharpening details that separated Seattle from the rest of the NFC in 2025.

The Real Test Comes in September

Continuity on paper only goes so far. Fleury has never called plays in an NFL regular-season game. The difference between installing an offense in shorts and managing protections, adjustments, and tempo against a live defense with the season on the line is significant.

Some new coordinators glide into the role. Others struggle with the pace and decision-making required week after week. The Seahawks are betting that Fleury’s broad background — coaching linebackers, quality control on both sides of the ball, and run-game coordination — has prepared him for the moment.

Darnold’s experience navigating constant change may prove just as valuable. He has learned to absorb new information quickly and translate it for teammates. That skill set now helps accelerate the install for everyone wearing Seahawks blue and green.

Life After the Parade Stays Grounded

Off the field, Darnold described a surprisingly normal existence since the confetti fell. He married his best friend, Katie Hoofnagle, in April. The Super Bowl glow brings more recognition in public, yet daily rhythms remain steady.

“Nothing has really changed,” he said of post-championship life. The stability appears to suit a quarterback who finally reached the mountaintop after years of movement between teams and systems.

That grounded perspective mirrors the offense itself right now — familiar enough to feel comfortable, fresh enough to keep improving.