Sam Darnold, the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, has become one of the most talked-about stories in professional football. The 28-year-old signal-caller is set to start for the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Since being drafted by the New York Jets in 2018, Darnold has played for several NFL teams, such as the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings, before returning home with the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.
Sam Darnold’s Journey with the Seattle Seahawks
In March 2025, Sam Darnold became a free agent and signed with the Seattle Seahawks, a new beginning for the California native in his eighth season in the NFL. This signing came after a trade that transferred former star Geno Smith to Las Vegas, leaving Darnold with a chance to become a starting quarterback. His relocation to Seattle is the peak of years of struggle in a rollercoaster career in various organizations.
Darnold was a backup in the San Francisco 49ers before joining the Seattle Seahawks, where he replaced Trey Lance as the second-string quarterback behind Brock Purdy. It was an invaluable experience, and Purdy, who began his league life as “Mr. Irrelevant” in 2022 and then became a finalist in the MVP in 2023, had a much different perception of the worth of persistence and possibility in the NFL. Now, Darnold has taken his opportunity to prove himself as a starting quarterback again, and his team has reached the largest stage of football.
Sam Darnold’s Athletic Heritage and Personal Life
Sam Darnold was born and raised in Capistrano Beach, California, in an amazing family of athletes. His father, Mike Darnold, was a college football player, and his mother, Chris Darnold, a college volleyball player. Athletics is in their blood – the grandfather of Sam, Dick Hammer, has become a legend, not only as a star of the USC basketball team, but also as a star of Olympic basketball volleyball. Franki Darnold, his older sister, became the first in a family history of playing volleyball, marking her collegiate career.
Darnold’s personal life reflects the same dedication he brings to the football field. In July 2024, He proposed to his long-term girlfriend Katie Hoofnagle in Dana Point, California. Hoofnagle, a former University of South Carolina club soccer player, has experienced the pressures of professional sports. Darnold complimented her steadfast support in a March 2025 interview with Us Weekly: “The support of my girlfriend is unbelievable. The fact that she just understands it. She’s a former athlete herself, and just gets kind of the grind of everything.”
Hoofnagle has been a constant source of encouragement throughout Darnold’s career journey. Just one month before their engagement, she posted a heartfelt birthday tribute to Sam on Instagram, writing: “In the disorganization of our day-to-day lives, all days with you flow with a great deal of peace, laughter, presence, joy, and love.”
As Super Bowl LX approaches, Darnold will have the advantage of playing in his home state of California, where he starred at the University of Southern California before entering the NFL. Among those watching and supporting him will be Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, a close friend and fellow member of the 2018 draft class. “Allen told CBS Sports, ” I love Sam Darnold, he was one of my good buddies. ” I will be watching, I will be rooting him on.”
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