Seahawks QB Sam Darnold Draws Strong Praise From Justin Jefferson Ahead of Week 13

Justin Jefferson says former teammate Sam Darnold is “definitely balling” in his first season running the Seattle Seahawks offense — and warns it will be “tough to win” at Lumen Field in Week 13. The Minnesota Vikings star’s praise gives Seattle an unexpected boost from the other sideline as the teams get set for their showdown in Seattle.

Darnold has thrown for 2,785 yards with 19 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 106.2 passer rating through 11 games, helping the Seahawks to an 8-3 start as they push for the NFC playoffs.

Justin Jefferson Says Sam Darnold Is ‘Definitely Balling’ for Seahawks

Jefferson knows Darnold as well as anyone in Minnesota. The two clicked with the Vikings last season before Darnold departed in free agency to sign with Seattle. Now, as he prepares to face his old quarterback, Jefferson isn’t pretending he hasn’t noticed what’s happening in the Pacific Northwest.

“He’s definitely balling,” Jefferson told reporters on November 26 when asked about Darnold’s 2025 season. He pointed out that Seattle’s “number one receiver is at the top in the NFL” and noted that Darnold “has been killing it” despite a couple of rough outings along the way.

Some critics have focused on Darnold’s four-interception meltdown against the Los Angeles Rams, but Jefferson looked at the big picture, saying his former teammate is “leading his team to victories.”

The numbers back that up. Darnold ranks top 10 in passing yards, passing touchdowns and QBR, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the NFL in receiving yards with 80 catches for 1,313 yards and seven touchdowns through 11 games.

Jefferson also circled back to the challenge of playing in Seattle, calling it a difficult environment and emphasizing that the Vikings will have to “lock in” on all three phases to have a chance at a road win.

What Jefferson’s Praise Means for Sam Darnold & Seattle’s Offense

Jefferson’s comments double as outside validation for the Seahawks’ decision to hand the 2025 offense to Darnold. Inside the building, head coach Mike Macdonald has been just as complimentary, but he’s focused on how Darnold is winning within the structure of Seattle’s scheme.

“There were several situations where he was working through his progressions and getting to number three, including the backs, to keep the ball moving forward,” Macdonald said after reviewing the film. “He identified opportunities to throw it downfield — that man coverage shot to Jax really sparked the day — and I thought he made some great decisions in the red zone.”

Macdonald also highlighted how Darnold is creating explosive plays without forcing balls into traffic.

“In the pass game, when Sam got to the later parts of his progressions and found Ken [Walker] late in the down, it created a couple explosives for us — and Zach [Charbonnet] for that matter,” Macdonald said. “We’ve got to keep doing that.”

Those comments line up with what Jefferson sees from afar: a quarterback who’s not just putting up numbers, but operating the offense at a high level and leaning into his weapons, especially Smith-Njigba.

Macdonald added that JSN is “playing a really integral part of what we’re doing right now offensively and as a team,” a strong nod to the third-year receiver’s emergence as a true No. 1 option on the outside.

Stats, Schedule & Context for Seahawks vs. Vikings

The Seahawks return home in Week 13 at 8-3, sitting firmly in the NFC playoff picture as they host the 4-7 Vikings at Lumen Field.

• Record: Seahawks 8-3, Vikings 4-7 
• QB: Sam Darnold – 2,785 passing yards, 19 TDs, 10 INTs, 106.2 rating 
• WR1: Jaxon Smith-Njigba – 80 receptions, 1,313 yards, 7 TDs, leading the league in receiving yards 
• Kickoff: Sunday, November 30, 2025, 4:05 p.m. ET at Lumen Field, with Seattle in its throwback uniforms. 

Around Darnold, Macdonald says the rest of the offense is rounding into form. He praised the right side of the offensive line and center Olu Oluwatimi for “unsung blocks” and having their “targets on point” in the run game, and said “everybody’s really improved, including the running backs,” as Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet stack efficient performances.

For Seattle, Jefferson’s “definitely balling” label is one more sign that Darnold’s breakout season isn’t just a local storyline. It’s something even a superstar on the other sideline can see — and it sets the stage for a high-profile reunion in a loud building with playoff positioning on the line.

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