Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold got relegated to the "honorable mentions" list in ESPN's latest 2026 NFL quarterback rankings, a baffling move that puts him outside the top 10 despite leading his team to the ultimate prize.
ESPN's Baffling Top 10, Minus Our Champ
ESPN dropped their annual 2026 NFL QB rankings, apparently "cooked up" with input from league execs, coaches, and scouts, and honestly, the Emerald City should be collectively scratching its head. Sure, Josh Allen landing at number one feels right, with Patrick Mahomes predictably right behind him. Matthew Stafford at three, Joe Burrow at four, and Lamar Jackson rounding out their top five. Okay, fine, that's a decent start. Then you get Dak Prescott at six, Justin Herbert at seven, and Drake Maye, fresh off his own Super Bowl appearance, climbing to number eight. Jared Goff edged out Caleb Williams for the last spots in the top ten. But wait, where is Sam Darnold in this illustrious group? Our guy? The one who actually hoisted the Lombardi Trophy?A Super Bowl Ring Ain't Enough, Apparently
Here’s where this list goes completely off the rails and why it feels like such a slap in the face to fans here in Seattle. Darnold is stuck on the "honorable mentions" list, chilling with Jayden Daniels, Jordan Love, and Brock Purdy. And get this for irony: almost half of those so-called "top 10" QBs *didn't even make the playoffs last season*! You read that right. Yet, our Super Bowl champion, the guy who was "awesome" when it mattered most, is deemed not good enough for their elite club? The whole point of this game is to win, isn't it? I'm old enough to remember when folks would stubbornly claim Trent Dilfer and Brad were the NFL’s best QBs just because they won Super Bowls, and yeah, that was pretty stupid. Wins aren't only quarterback stats. But completely ignoring a Super Bowl win, the ultimate prize, when you're ranking guys? That feels like we're swinging too far the other way. The fact he won makes this omission, even if it's "understandable" to some, way more interesting. Outside Seattle, people might not even hear his name when asked for a top-10 list, and that just makes you wonder what these evaluators are *really* looking at. So, as we look ahead to the upcoming NFL season, Sam Darnold has even more fuel for the fire. These lists are always profoundly imperfect, designed purely to stir conversation, and boy, have they ever succeeded with this one. Our Super Bowl champ is a proven winner, and he'll be out there proving these "experts" wrong, one hard-fought snap at a time. Let's watch him force his way onto *everyone's* top-10 list by the time this season wraps up. Go Hawks!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.