John Friesz

Darnold's operating in a completely different stratosphere. The current Seahawks starter has already eclipsed Friesz's career passing yards and touchdown total, and he's doing it in an era where defenses are handcuffed by rules that would've made Friesz's life infinitely easier. Friesz was a journeyman backup who threw 45 TDs across a decade; Darnold's got that in a few seasons. Different eras, different talent levels.

No, Friesz never made Canton and realistically never had a case. He was a career backup and spot starter who accumulated 8,699 passing yards and 45 touchdowns over ten seasons with four teams. Those numbers don't move the Hall of Fame needle. He had moments—a consensus All-American at Idaho in 1988—but his NFL résumé simply doesn't warrant enshrinement consideration.

The search results don't contain information about Friesz's current activities in 2026, so I can't tell you what he's doing now—whether he's in broadcasting, business, coaching, or something else entirely. You'd need to check recent interviews or his social media to get that answer.

Modern passing rules would've been a gift to Friesz's arm talent, but his 72.3 career passer rating suggests accuracy and decision-making were issues. Today's QBs get more time in the pocket and face softer secondaries, but Friesz still wouldn't crack a starting rotation. He'd be a capable backup in 2026, nothing more—the game's evolved beyond what he could offer.

Hasselbeck laps Friesz on every meaningful measure. Hasselbeck's 38.7 rating dwarfs Friesz's 12.05, and the gap in their Seahawks legacies is equally vast. Hasselbeck actually won games in Seattle and made a Super Bowl; Friesz was a transitional piece. No contest between the two as franchise quarterbacks.