Jaxon Smith-Njigba Reveals Surprising Truth Behind His On-Field Connection with Sam Darnold

When the Seattle Seahawks decided to gut their offense this offseason, trading away Geno Smith and parting ways with staples like D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, plenty wondered if they’d lost their mojo — or their marbles. But here we are, a few games into the season, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is proving that sometimes, a bold shuffle is exactly what’s needed. The Ohio State alum is not just stepping up; he’s redefining what it means to be the Seahawks’ go-to guy. What’s behind this surge? A midseason romance blooming between Smith-Njigba and new QB Sam Darnold—an on-field chemistry so electric, it’s got fans whispering, could this duo be the next great NFL connection? Let’s unpack how hard work, trust, and a bit of springtime grinding have turned this evolving partnership into a highlight reel we can’t stop watching.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 05: Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lumen Field on October 05, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. — (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

The Seattle Seahawks overhauled their offense in the offseason.

Not only did they ship starting quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and replace him with Sam Darnold, but they also tore their wide receivers room apart.

Moving on from D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett was the end of an era at Lumen Field, but it was a testament to the confidence they had in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Fast forward to today, and it’s more than evident that it paid off.

The Ohio State product is playing the best football of his career, and while he clearly deserves all the credit in the world for the way he’s playing, he also knows that his quarterback has played a big part in his success.

With that in mind, he opened up about his chemistry with Darnold:

“Just the hard work that we put in the spring, in the summertime just coming to fruition. It’s awesome to see the fruit of our labor, and we just want to take it to the next level. The connection with me and Sam [Darnold], just throw it up and I’m going to go get it,” Smith-Njigba said.

"The connection with me and Sam [Darnold], just throw it up and I'm going to go get it."

Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba on his chemistry with Sam Darnold. pic.twitter.com/rn1bNwEweC

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 12, 2025

So far, Smith-Njigba has turned 43 targets into 34 receptions for a whopping 534 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

He’s averaging a career-best 15.7 yards per reception, 12.4 yards per target (league-best), and 106.8 receiving yards per game.

More impressively, he’s been an entirely different and much more complete pass-catcher this season.

Usually known for making the most of his damage in the slot, he’s actually been more of a factor lining up out wide this season.

Smith-Njigba has gotten better every year he’s been in the league.

And now that Darnold has finally figured things out and is playing like a star, this connection could be one of the best in the game for many more years to come.

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