What Seahawks Quarterback Sam Darnold Told His Dad That Made Them Both Cry

"Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold led his team to victory in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots on Feb. 8 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. He completed 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown in the Seattle Seahawks' 29-13 win over the New England Patriots. In a press conference following the big game, Darnold shared that his win was a family affair. "It's just, it's special. I mean, you know, I shared a great moment with my parents and my fiancée, Katie, after the game. I think that's what kind of got me a little bit," Darnold said. Sam Darnold's father, Mike, and mother, Chris, were both at the game, along with his future wife, Katie Hoofnagle."

""Me and my dad don't really cry very often," the quarterback said. "I told my dad - and my mom - I'm here because of their belief. And they believed in me throughout my entire career, and I think that's why I was able to believe in myself, almost ad nauseam." Darnold's path to a Super Bowl win was never a given. In fact, the Seahawks are the fifth NFL team to give Darnold a chance to play. He was a member of the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings before signing with the Seahawks in March 2025."

""Some people called me crazy throughout my career for believing in myself so much and having so much confidence," Sam Darnold said after the victory. "But, you know, it was because of my parents, because of the way that they believed in me throughout my entire career. It allowed me to go out there and play free and have a ton of confidence.""

Sam Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to a 29-13 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, completing 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown. Darnold celebrated the win with his parents and fiancée and credited their belief for giving him confidence. The Seahawks are the fifth NFL team to give Darnold a chance; he previously spent time with the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings before signing with Seattle in March 2025. His father played college football and worked as a medical gas plumber; his mother played volleyball and taught middle school P.E.

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