Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has a touchdown-worthy love story with his fiancée, Katie Hoofnagle.
“Amidst the chaos of our everyday lives, every day spent with you is filled with an abundance of peace, laughter, presence, joy and love,” Hoofnagle wrote via Instagram in June 2025, celebrating Darnold’s birthday. “Here’s to another trip around the sun sharing good meals, good music, and good company.”
She continued, “Happy 28th birthday to my better half, I love you more.”
Hoofnagle started dating Darnold in 2023, when he played for the San Francisco 49ers. She has since been the quarterback’s No. 1 cheerleader throughout his respective tenures with the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks in 2024 and 2025.
Hoofnagle even joined Darnold on the field after he led the Seahawks to victory in the 2026 NFC Championship game.
“I love you,” Hoofnagle gushed in January 2026, sealing Darnold’s win with a kiss. “I’m so proud of you. Hey, you did that!”
Darnold, meanwhile, playfully corrected Hoofnagle, adding that, “We did that.”
Keep scrolling for Darnold and Hoofnagle’s relationship timeline:
April 2023
While Darnold and Hoofnagle have revealed the origins of their love story, they made their social media debut in April 2023.
“Happy little moments 🌞💐🥂🌊,” Hoofnagle captioned an Instagram carousel, featuring images of a bouquet gifted from Darnold and selfies from their date nights.
Months later, Hoofnagle started posting photos from the sidelines of Arnold’s 49ers games.
June 2023
Hoofnagle gushed over Darnold in a 26th birthday tribute.
“Your huge heart, goofy energy and ability to quote every movie you’ve ever seen are unmatched,” she wrote via Instagram. “Happy 26th birthday, celebrating you is so easy!”
February 2025
Darnold and Hoofnagle made their red carpet debut at the 2025 NFL Honors, where Hoofnagle’s silver gown complemented Darnold’s black suit.
July 2025
Darnold proposed to Hoofnagle on the beach in Dana Point, California.
“YES!!!!!” Hoofnagle captioned portraits from their dreamy proposal. “The best day ever 🕊️. Here’s to forever together.”
January 2026
Sam Darnold kisses his fiancee, Katie Hoofnagle, after the 2026 NFC Championship game. Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Darnold and the Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-21 in the NFC Championship, securing a spot in the 2026 Super Bowl. At the end of the game, Hoofnagle raced onto the field to celebrate with her man.
“Baby, how about that?” Darnold said in footage shared by the NFL. “[I] love you.”
Hoofnagle quickly replied that she “loves [him] more” before the duo shared a sweet kiss. She added, “We’re going to the Super Bowl!”
Darnold and the Seahawks will play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX in February 2026.
“[It’s] amazing, but to be able to do it with these guys with this coaching staff, that’s why it means the world to me,” Darnold said in a postgame interview. “I take it one day at a time, every single day. To be able to do it with these guys … it’s a special group, and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”
Hoofnagle later shared images from the NFC title game celebration via her Instagram, writing, “WE’RE NOT DONE YET!!!”
February 2026
Darnold gushed about Hoofnagle in the build-up to Super Bowl LX.
“I think it comes back to having a great fiancée,” he told reporters during media availability. “She does a lot for me. She keeps me calm. She reminds me of why I do what I do, why I go to work every single day.”
He added, “I love this game, I love my teammates, love my coaching staff, it does not always feel like work. But sometimes, the season can get long. She makes it all worthwhile.”
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