Skip Bayless admits Sam Darnold has improved but won’t crown him as a great quarterback

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Skip Bayless admitted he was taken aback by Sam Darnold’s display on the biggest stage of his career.

Sam Darnold delivered a performance that defied expectations as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

The quarterback’s showing prompted a notable reaction from Skip Bayless, who acknowledged the surprise while stopping short of a full endorsement.

Skip Bayless surprised by Sam Darnold performance in NFC Championship

Skip Bayless said Sam Darnold’s composure and decision-making stood out in a game where mistakes often decide the outcome.

Skip Bayless stressed on The Arena that Darnold did not approach the contest with caution or fear, something that hadn’t been the case in the past.

“Sam Darnold and zero turnovers. That’s the story of the game,” Bayless said. “He didn’t come out playing scared. He didn’t come out just handing the ball off and hoping to survive.”

“If Sam Darnold protects the football like that, with those weapons and that defense, they are almost impossible to beat.”

Skip Bayless added that Darnold’s willingness to attack the Los Angeles Rams defense played a major role in Seattle’s victory.

“My respect for Sam Darnold went way up because he went blow-for-blow with Matt Stafford and didn’t blink.”

Despite NFC Championship Game, Skip Bayless not fully convinced

Skip Bayless made it clear that one performance, even at the NFC Championship level, is not enough to rewrite a long-term evaluation. Bayless said his assessment remains rooted in a broader body of work.

“I’m not going to crown him because we have one huge game to go,” Bayless said. “I’m going to look at his track record over eight years, and I won’t leap to the conclusion about Sam Darnold, Darn That Darnold.”

Bayless explained that while his respect for Darnold increased after the performance, sustained success will ultimately determine how the quarterback is judged.

For Bayless, the Super Bowl now represents the final test of whether this run marks a real transformation or a single standout moment.