Sam Darnold’s Breakout Moment: Seahawks QB Shines in NFC Title Win, Books Super Bowl Date with Patriots
Sam Darnold is headed to the Super Bowl-and he didn’t just punch that ticket, he stamped it with authority.
In the Seahawks’ thrilling 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, Darnold delivered the kind of performance that silences doubters and cements legacies. Completing 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns without a single turnover, Darnold was in total command from the first snap to the final whistle at Lumen Field.
This wasn’t just a good game-it was a statement. A quarterback once written off by many is now the centerpiece of a Super Bowl-bound team, leading a Seattle offense that looks as dangerous as any in the league.
And in the moments after the win, amid the confetti and chaos, Darnold shared an emotional embrace on the field with his fiancée, Katie Hoofnagle. Caught on the NFL’s “Mic’d Up” segment, Darnold admitted the moment didn’t feel real.
Hoofnagle’s reply? “We did that.”
It was a simple line, but it captured everything-his journey, their journey, and the gravity of what they’d just accomplished.
Let’s not forget, this is the same Darnold who signed a $100.5 million deal with Seattle back in March. That move raised eyebrows at the time, but now it’s looking like one of the savviest decisions of the offseason. Darnold has not only stabilized the Seahawks’ quarterback position-he’s elevated it.
Now, the stage is set for a Super Bowl showdown in Santa Clara against the New England Patriots. And yes, it’s a rematch of that unforgettable Super Bowl XLIX clash, the one that ended with a goal-line interception that still haunts Seahawks fans.
But this time, it’s a new era. A new quarterback.
A new identity.
Head coach Mike Macdonald didn’t hold back after the win, praising Darnold’s resilience and poise under pressure. “Shut a lot of people up tonight,” Macdonald said-a nod to the critics who questioned whether Darnold could ever live up to his first-round pedigree.
Now, he’s about to do something no USC quarterback has ever done: start in a Super Bowl.
Off the field, Darnold’s relationship with Hoofnagle has been a steady presence throughout his NFL journey. The two met during his time in Charlotte, where he played for the Panthers during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
She’s been by his side through the ups and downs, including his Pro Bowl season with the Vikings in 2024. Last July, they took the next step, getting engaged in Dana Point, California.
Hoofnagle, a 2020 graduate of the University of South Carolina, currently works remotely as an account manager for Renvio, a healthcare tech company. While Darnold’s been commanding huddles and reading defenses, she’s been building her own career-proof that this couple is thriving on and off the field.
But for now, all eyes are on what comes next. Darnold has already rewritten his narrative. In less than two weeks, he’ll have the chance to write Seahawks history.
From castoff to cornerstone, Sam Darnold’s journey has been anything but conventional. But if Sunday night was any indication, he’s just getting started.