QB Sam Darnold Shocks NFL by Bluntly Refusing to Wear LGBT Armband During Transgender Awareness Week. Calls the “WOKE” Program Unworthy of Honor – Right on the Eve of Sunday’s Showdown With the Rams

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. November 15, 2025

The NFL is no stranger to cultural controversies. but few have erupted as quickly and fiercely as the firestorm surrounding Sam Darnold this week. Just hours before the Sunday showdown with the Los Angeles Rams, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback stunned the league by publicly refusing to wear the LGBT armband. an item encouraged by the NFL to support Transgender Awareness Week, which takes place annually from November 13 to 19.

While most players quietly followed the league’s guidelines. Darnold chose a different path. He did not attack anyone nor take an extreme stance. but he clearly leaned toward not wanting to be part of this symbolic campaign. During his pregame media session. he delivered a statement that instantly froze the national sports media.

"I respect everyone. But I don't think football is the place to bring messages like this into. I don't want to wear that LGBT armband. And I want to focus on the upcoming game. There are more important things that outsiders don't see. And I don't want to be pushed into a role I never chose. In the end, I just want to play football for what it truly is."

Within minutes. social media erupted. The hashtags #RespectDarnold and #WhyDarnoldWhy shot into the top trending spots. Half of the public viewed Darnold as someone brave enough to hold his own ground in a climate where everything is easily politicized. The other half criticized him as “insensitive” for making such comments during a week dedicated to raising awareness and honoring transgender victims. especially with Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20.

Inside the Seahawks organization. the atmosphere was described as “delicate but not fractured.” Some players understood and respected his stance. while others remained quiet. The head coach avoided diving deep into the controversy. emphasizing that the team was “focused solely on the Rams.”

The media. however. was anything but silent. Darnold’s decision became the most discussed story of the week. overshadowing even the tactical buildup to one of the Seahawks’ most important games of the season. A cultural debate had landed squarely on the team’s doorstep at the most sensitive moment imaginable.

Even though Sam Darnold did not intend to create chaos. his choice to “stay out” has thrust the entire NFL into a bigger conversation about the boundary between personal belief and public responsibility. And now. with Sunday fast approaching. all eyes will be fixed not only on how he throws the football. but also on whether he walks onto the field with a bare wrist. or with the weight of a national controversy following him for weeks to come.