Q&A: Seahawks QB coach Andrew Janocko on the 'resiliency' of Sam Darnold
His presence in this game boggles brains. Look closely, and you'll see why a quarterback left for dead is starting in Super Bowl LX.
SAN FRANCISCO — Greetings! We’re one day away from Super Bowl LX.
Live at Go Long, we’ve got the story on Sam Darnold’s rise to this moment. It’s remarkable for many reasons.
Tom Brady didn’t want him. One coach on the Las Vegas Raiders staff supplies the untold back story. Vikings teammates miss him dearly. Harrison Smith and Blake Cashman do not hold back — they loved the QB. Meanwhile, those in USC knew he was “fearless” all along.
Paid subscribers can access this longform piece in full.
In addition to this, here’s my chat with Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko.
More stories, podcasts and predictions still to come right up to kickoff.
We’ll be on-hand for all festivities.
Thank you, all.
You’ve talked about Sam in every conceivable way. What is something people don’t know about him?
Janocko: I know a lot of people talk about his resiliency throughout his career and really that’s something that I marvel at quite a bit — how resilient he’s been, not only throughout his career, but each and every single week throughout how long the season is. His willingness and his appetite to prepare every week. And whether he just threw four touchdowns or you think about the first Rams game, where he threw a couple picks and he’s been able to bounce back where the next game is the next game. The next challenge. And he’s going to go through his process and he’s going to prepare each and every week. And that’s easier said than done because it’s a long season. We start in August and we’re doing this here in February still. Each and every single week. So I’d say that that’s something that to me, it’s truly impressive.
What was your involvement in the whole process of Sam becoming a Seahawk back in March? There were lot of moving parts.
Janocko: Obviously, Klint and I got hired here. Geno was here. He was the plan. And then John and Mike decided to pivot and make a decision that they really altered the franchise. The vision they had to construct this roster, it’s been really cool to be around and see their vision come to life and the people that they put in this building — the type of people, the type of player obviously within the type of people, whether it’s bringing Sam in, bring Coop in and what Coop’s done in the building and how he’s elevated everybody as far as his professionalism. So just being part of that, seeing it. That was really cool.
You get here in January and you’re thinking Geno’s the guy. Then, you find out Sam Darnold’s your quarterback. What did you know about him then?
Janocko: I can’t say I had a relationship with him. I did not know Sam, but it didn’t take us long to get to know each other. And we realized we have a lot of the same values, a lot of the same wants, likes, the same sense of humor. The things we laugh at, things that we find are funny are the things my wife finds quite childish. He’s somebody that can quote The Office probably as well as I can.
What kind of sense of humor? Dry?
Janocko: Definitely a little bit dry, but there’s never a “that’s what she said” that goes unnoticed in our room. There’s never a Michael Scott quote that can get past Sam and Drew and we’re getting Jalen caught up to that, too. We’re getting him there. That’s been a neat thing.
Is it just mainly The Office? Is there anything else you guys tap into?
Janocko: He’s never seen Christmas Vacation, which I was baffled by. Drew and I still don’t understand how you can really go through life without experiencing something like that. So that’s definitely, that’s a post-Super Bowl must.
You’ve got to have this relationship with the quarterback. You guys are around each other more than your significant others.
Janocko: Klint and I laugh about it all the time. We definitely spend more time together than our wives. That room that we have, we spend a heck of a lot of time in there. Especially when you go deep into the playoffs. And just being in Seattle, we spend so much time on the road with the flights.
I didn’t really think about that. You’re up in an airplane a lot.
Janocko: A lot. A lot. So you get close to guys like that. So yeah, so it’s a cool bond that we formed and I think Mike created the concept of this team and fostered that. It’s not common.
So when you’re up in a flight, do you guys sit by each other?
Janocko: Yeah, there’s different places. I can’t sit still, so I’m generally moving around seeing what the guys are up to. A lot of times we’re flying on Fridays. If we’re playing on the east coast, we go Friday, so you’re up and down or we’re reviewing some stuff and putting together stuff for the next day. So there’s a lot of time to spend together.
I was talking with John Schneider last week and he said what he loved about Sam is that he’s not cookie-cutter, 7 on 7, created in a lab quarterback. He was a linebacker in high school. He keeps swinging. Guys can kind of feed off of that, a real football dude’s dude. How would you kind of describe that aspect him?
Janocko: I think John hit right on head. One of the best things about Sam is he gets mad at something, but then it’s that next-play mentality. That’s part of the resiliency. It’s the next play. If it’s great, you get the fist pump. Which is about as much as you want to get, and then it’s on to the next play. So I think that all goes back to his resiliency and what he’s built throughout his career.
He’s going to say everything right in this setting. Does he want to stick it to anybody for doubting him? He’s been left for dead his entire life.
Janocko: If he has, it’s never been something that’s come up with us in all the time we spend together. I think honestly, he just wants to do things for him and his teammates. He wants the guys around him to succeed. And that’s one of the coolest things him. He drives the engine, but it’s to bring everybody else along too and wants to see their success.
Are there any lessons we can all take from the fact that he’s in a Super Bowl when 99.99 percent of people wrote him off?
Janocko: Keep growing, keep believing in yourself and play the next play. And the next play is the only thing that matters. That’s really how he approaches things and I think that’s something that — whether you’re a young player, whatever business you’re in — if you’re just resilient, you keep working, you keep developing and you’re ready to move on to the next thing, good, bad or indifferent, that’s a key to success.
He never made himself a victim. I was in Minnesota last year and it’s like he’s got every reason to take a jab or a shot or even referenced his past. Privately, is he the same way?
Janocko: I don’t see it. That’s really not part of his makeup. I think he just focused on what he’s got to do and then the guys around him and uplifting those guys is really one of the biggest things.
Super Bowl LX links, so far:
Real Football: Seattle Seahawks-New England Patriots Super Bowl LX Preview!
Carlton Davis: ‘I feel like it’s going to be another surprise win’
Southern Comfort: Patriots’ gator-huntin’ rookie Will Campbell is 1 of 1
‘It’s incredible:’ Super Bowl LX’s roots are in Ron Wolf’s Green Bay Packers
Pod: Stevie Johnson has a PSA for Buffalo Bills WR Keon Coleman!
Best Super Bowl storyline? Terrell Williams is cancer-free, back on the Patriots sideline
1 on 1: Seahawks GM John Schneider on Packers roots, Sam Darnold, building a winner (again)