Several games on the 2025 NFL regular-season schedule have already been shared, and other dates continue to leak before the official release on Wednesday, including the Seattle Seahawks debut of former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold.
According to a rumor shared by Seattle radio host Dave Mahler of KJR-FM on Tuesday, Darnold and the Seahawks are expected to open up the 2025 season at home against the San Francisco 49ers.
The matchup would not only pit two NFC West rivals against each other to start the 2025 campaign, but it would also have Darnold face a 49ers team that gave him a roster spot back during the 2023 season before he left and signed with the Vikings last year.
Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold played well when the Minnesota Vikings faced the San Francisco 49ers in 2024
Last season, Minnesota and Darnold headed into a Week 2 matchup against a San Francisco squad that was coming off an appearance in the previous season's Super Bowl. It was a great test for the Vikings to see if their veteran quarterback could succeed against one of the best teams in the league.
In the end, Darnold aced the test by completing 64 percent of his passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns against the 49ers, including a thrilling 97-yard touchdown toss to All-Pro Minnesota receiver Justin Jefferson. The quarterback's efforts ultimately helped lead the Vikings to an impressive 23-17 win over San Francisco.
Darnold then, of course, went on to put together the best single-season of his career, which helped Minnesota finish the 2024 campaign with an outstanding 14-3 record, and also helped him earn a lucrative, multi-year contract from the Seahawks earlier this year.
Now with Seattle, the big question surrounding Darnold has to do with whether or not he can still be successful without the help of Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. Seattle is certainly hoping he can, and if not, then O'Connell is only going to be made out to be even more of a genious than he was before.