One of the false narratives going around in the leadup to Super Bowl 60 at Levi's Stadium is how Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is the first Round 1 quarterback from the now-infamous 2018 NFL Draft class to make it to the Super Bowl.
It's a narrative Darnold didn't hesitate to correct, reminding fans and media how he actually made it to the Super Bowl previously back in February of 2024 when he was with the San Francisco 49ers.
Albeit in a backup role to the Niners' starter, Brock Purdy.
Darnold didn't see a snap in that overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. But, in full preparation for the Super Bowl, the now-Hawks signal-caller shadowed Purdy in the leadup to the Sunday showdown.
Now a starter, though, the attention on Darnold far surpasses what he experienced after his one-year stint in the Bay Area as Purdy's backup.
But the advice Darnold received from Purdy could actually wind up giving Seattle a unique edge when they square off against the New England Patriots on Feb. 8.
Brock Purdy's advice to Sam Darnold might help Seahawks win Super Bowl
A key difference between the Super Bowl and any other game, either during the regular season or postseason, is just how much media hype and hoopla that builds up to the game itself.
Whether it's press conferences, interviews with media outlets or fan events, starting quarterbacks for Super Bowl-bound teams find themselves under immense pressure and a complete dislodging from their normal pregame routines.
In this, Darnold found some key advice from Purdy's previous run two years ago.
"I think the biggest thing is," Darnold told reporters of Purdy's advice, "just trying to keep the routine the same, and that was something that I was able to ask Brock a little bit about during the process of kind of, 'Are you feeling it? Are you a little tired?' And he said, 'No, I just take it one step at a time and do the whole media and all my obligations and everything I need to do, but continue to keep the routine the same.'"
Sam Darnold has been here before. Sort of.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) February 4, 2026
He hasn’t played in a Super Bowl, but he was Brock Purdy’s backup in 2023 when the 49ers reached the big game.
Here was Darnold on what he learned that week. pic.twitter.com/GH5Ozqzdp3
Darnold also acknowledged another key X-factor that Purdy advised.
"I think the biggest thing, too, is early in the week -- these last couple of days -- I was able to get a lot of sleep," Seattle's hurler continued. "And I think that's huge."
Granted, if Darnold balls out and leads the Seahawks to their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history, Niners fans will cringe.
And they may cringe just a little bit more if they come to realize Purdy played a small role in helping that happen.