Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Nov 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) fakes the handoff to running back Jadarian Price (8) against the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field.
Life is pretty good these days if you’re a member of the Seattle Seahawks. That is, unless you’re the rookie who took a huge pay cut from their NIL payment in college to head to the NFL.
The Seahawks are just 4-4 this season after a loss to the Chicago Bears on “Monday Night Football.” But they’re still the defending Super Bowl champions and widely expected to make the playoffs, although they’ll have to fight to do so.
One rookie, however, may be wishing he had found a way to stay in college and continued to make the $800,000 in NIL he made last year.
Sam Darnold says a Seahawks rookie made $800,000 in NIL before entering the NFL and getting just a $20,000 signing bonus, and says some rookies are now arriving in the NFL having already made more money in college than they’re getting to start their professional careers
“We had our first little rookie show right before we ended minicamp. We all went to dinner and had a rookie show, and you get guys saying their name, school, signing bonus.”
“We had guys saying their name, school, signing bonus, and what they made in NIL.”
“One of the kids will be like, ‘My name’s D, went here, got a $20,000 signing bonus.’ And we’re like, ‘NIL? NIL?’ And he’s like, ‘$800,000 NIL.’”
“And you’re like, ‘Ain’t that nice? I’m taking a pay cut to play in the league.’ That is insane. Your dream is going to cost you. Literally cost you.”
“I was like, ‘Dude, I would do the same thing.’ Some of these kids, I would try to play seven or eight years in college. It is wild.”
— Josh Chambers (@JoshChambers) November 5, 2026
Sam Darnold Opens Up On Seahawks Teammate’s Huge Pay Cut
Darnold has resurrected his career, first with the Minnesota Vikings and now in Seattle, after struggling as a 2018 first-round pick of the New York Jets.
He recently appeared on the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast with former players Taylor Lewan and Will Compton and discussed a number of topics, including how NIL has changed the college football landscape.
“We had our first little rookie show right before we ended minicamp,” Darnold explained. “We all went to dinner and had a rookie show, and you get guys saying their name, school, signing bonus.”
“We had guys saying their name, school, signing bonus, and what they made in NIL.”
“One of the kids will be like, ‘My name’s D, went here, got a $20,000 signing bonus.’ And we’re like, ‘NIL? NIL?’ And he’s like, ‘$800,000 NIL.’”
“And you’re like, ‘Ain’t that nice? I’m taking a pay cut to play in the league.’ That is insane. Your dream is going to cost you. Literally cost you.”
“I was like, ‘Dude, I would do the same thing.’ Some of these kids, I would try to play seven or eight years in college. It is wild.”
So, while it may be annoying to see players fighting to spend extra years playing college football, it’s easy to understand their motivation.