ESPN Analyst Forced to Revisit Scathing Seahawks Assessment After Super Bowl Qualification
Prominent ESPN analyst Mina Kimes has found herself consuming a substantial portion of humble pie this week, following the Seattle Seahawks' dramatic qualification for Super Bowl LX. The sports commentator, a well-known Seahawks supporter, faced a wave of online scrutiny after her preseason prediction about the team's quarterback situation resurfaced in the wake of their NFC Championship victory.
The Receipts Surface After Playoff Triumph
The controversy ignited shortly after the Seahawks secured a hard-fought 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, clinching their place in the season's ultimate game. Critics on social media platform X quickly unearthed a post from Kimes dated March 7, 2025, in which she delivered a blistering critique of the franchise's decision to trade quarterback Geno Smith and acquire Sam Darnold.
In her now-infamous assessment, Kimes branded the move 'terrible' and asserted that the 'chances of upgrading are extremely low.' This take has aged spectacularly poorly, given Darnold's subsequent success in steering Seattle to a dominant 14-3 regular season record, the NFC's top seed, and now a Super Bowl berth.
Kimes Confronts Criticism Head-On
One social media user directly challenged Kimes, posting: 'Your empty words fall on deaf ears. You thought it was a mistake to lose Geno. Must be nice to just be wrong and pretend you said nothing.' Rather than shying away, the analyst confronted the blunder with remarkable candour.
'I did, and have said I was wrong a bunch! (You can search for it on here),' Kimes fired back in a reply. She elaborated further, stating, 'Also discussed on my pod a lot. Part of the job is trying to understand why you’re wrong so you can get better, imo.' This public accountability stands in stark contrast to the frequent defensiveness seen in sports media.
Stark Contrast in Quarterback Fortunes
The context of Kimes' original comment adds significant weight to the story. Her critique was posted just three days before the Seahawks finalised Darnold's massive three-year, $100.5 million contract. While Darnold flourished in Seattle, Geno Smith's season in Las Vegas unravelled into a nightmare.
After signing a $75 million extension to reunite with former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll at the Raiders, Smith led the team to a dismal 3-14 finish. His performance, which included 17 interceptions, contributed directly to Carroll's firing and left the Raiders with the number one overall pick in the upcoming 2026 draft. The franchise is now expected to draft Indiana national champion Fernando Mendoza, signalling a likely end to Smith's tenure as a starter.
Darnold's Stunning Career Resurrection
Meanwhile, Sam Darnold has completed one of the most remarkable career revivals in recent NFL memory. Once written off as a bust following his time with the New York Jets, the 28-year-old quarterback has silenced his detractors. He was instrumental in Sunday's NFC Championship victory, throwing three touchdowns with zero interceptions against a formidable Rams defense.
His connection with star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who shattered franchise records this season with 1,793 receiving yards, proved unstoppable. Head coach Mike Macdonald heaped praise on his quarterback after the game, stating, 'You can’t talk about the game without talking about our quarterback. I mean he just shut a lot of people up tonight, so I’m really happy for him.'
From Castoff to Super Bowl Contender
In a display of genuine sportsmanship, even Mina Kimes expressed her delight at being proven wrong. She posted on X: 'Man…I’m just really freakin happy for Sam Darnold. We were in Arizona for his loss to the Rams last year - to go from that to this, and from castoff to the Super Bowl. What an incredible journey.'
Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks will now prepare to face the New England Patriots in Santa Clara on February 8 for Super Bowl LX, capping off a season that defied one prominent analyst's expectations and rewrote the narrative on the quarterback's career.
