Sam Darnold takes the field in Super Bowl 60 as the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots, capping one of professional American football’s most extraordinary redemption arcs.
The 28-year-old quarterback from Capistrano Beach, California, has transformed from a player widely dismissed as a bust into appearing in a Super Bowl in his debut campaign with Seattle, having joined as an unrestricted free agent in March 2025.
Supporters and analysts alike are hailing his journey as among the finest comeback narratives in NFL history.
The former third overall draft pick has now guided the Seahawks to the NFC’s top seed and a championship showdown, proving his doubters spectacularly wrong in his eighth professional season.
Selected by the New York Jets with the third pick in 2018, Darnold compiled a dismal 13-25 record across three seasons with the franchise.
His draft class in 2018 features some major quarterback talent, including Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield.
Allen and Jackson are now two of the best Quarterbacks in the league for their franchise.
Perhaps the lowest point of Darnold’s early career came during a Monday Night Football thrashing by the Patriots in October 2019, when microphones captured him admitting on the sideline, “I’m seeing ghosts,” after throwing four interceptions in a 33-0 defeat.
Sam Darnold is appearing in a Super Bowl in his debut campaign with the Seattle Seahawks
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GETTYThe Jets offloaded him to the Carolina Panthers in April 2021, where further struggles awaited.
After two underwhelming seasons in Carolina, Darnold signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, spending the year as Brock Purdy’s understudy rather than commanding a starting role.
His fortunes shifted dramatically during the 2024 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings, where he delivered the finest performances of his career.
Darnold completed 66.2 per cent of his passes for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, guiding Minnesota to a 14-3 record and earning his maiden Pro Bowl selection.
Sam Darnold was selected by the New York Jets with the third pick in 2018
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Despite this breakthrough, the Vikings opted to move on, choosing instead to develop first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.
Seattle swooped in during the 2025 offseason, trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and handing Darnold a three-year deal worth $100million.
The investment has paid handsome dividends, with Darnold recording another 4,000-yard season and joining Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks to secure 14 victories in consecutive campaigns.
Outside the field, Darnold became engaged to Katie Hoofnagle in July 2025, who is credited with helping motivate him.
Sam Darnold became engaged to Katie Hoofnagle in July 2025
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Speaking to reporters during Super Bowl opening night, Darnold said: “I think it comes back to, for me, having a great fiancée.
“She does a lot for me, and she keeps me calm.
“She reminds me of why I do what I do, why I go to work every single day.”
Hoofnagle, who attended the University of South Carolina and grew up near San Francisco, has supported Darnold through his various team changes since they went public with their relationship in June 2023.
