Sam Darnold’s 2026 postseason run has literally changed the script on his NFL narrative. New team. New confidence. Super Bowl lights. And as the Seattle Seahawks surge through February, the curiosity around Darnold isn’t just about reads and arm angles anymore. Fans are zooming out to ask what life looks like away from the huddle.
That intensified on February 6, 2026, after Seattle knocked out the Rams in the NFC Championship. With Darnold leading the charge, interest around his personal life spiked just as fast as his QBR. Is he married? Who’s been in his corner through the ups and downs? The answers add a little context to the calm he’s been playing with all season.
Here’s the reality check. As of Feb. 2026, Sam Darnold ain’t a married man. He, however, is engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Katie Hoofnagle. The couple announced their engagement in July 2025 after the 28-year-old proposed during a beachside setup in Dana Point, California, per their joint Instagram post.
Multiple reports, including an online wedding registry, list April 3, 2026, as their expected wedding date. Hoofnagle is a former University of South Carolina soccer player and currently works as a marketing specialist at healthcare software firm Renvio, according to her LinkedIn.
She’s been a steady presence throughout Darnold’s stops in Carolina, Minnesota, and now Seattle. In a March 2025 interview with Us Weekly, Darnold credited her for understanding the NFL grind. Off the field, it’s stable. On it, Darnold’s locked in, to a tee.
Who Are Sam Darnold’s Parents? Meet Mike and Chris Darnold
The two-time Pro Bowler’s roots trace back to Capistrano Beach, California, where work ethic was daily life. His parents, Mike and Chris Darnold, were both college athletes, and that competitive DNA showed up early for Sam and his older sister, Franki. Effort mattered. Consistency mattered more.
Mike Darnold set the tone. He’s spent more than 30 years as a medical gas plumber, known for early mornings and no shortcuts. A former University of Redlands offensive lineman, Mike passed along toughness, even lobbying to name Sam “Buck” before Chris shut it down.
Chris Darnold balanced the edge. A retired middle school PE teacher and former Long Beach City College volleyball player, she’s still active around sports, helping San Clemente High’s girls flag football team in early 2026. Athletic legacy runs deep. Her father, Dick Hammer, starred at USC, competed in the 1964 U.S. Olympic volleyball team, and famously portrayed the Marlboro Man.
Through it all, they stayed grounded – the same support system behind Sam Darnold’s 2026 Super Bowl run.