Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has spoken publicly about the role his fiancée, Katie Hoofnagle, has played in supporting him as he prepares for Super Bowl 60. The couple, who confirmed their relationship in mid-2023, have largely kept their personal lives out of the public eye. The couple had announced their engagement via Instagram in July 2025.
As Darnold prepares to lead the Seahawks against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, he said Hoofnagle has been central to helping him remain composed during the season.
Speaking at a press conference on the opening night of Super Bowl 60 on February 2, Darnold was asked how he maintains focus under pressure. “I think it comes back to, for me, having a great fiancée,” he said. “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.”
Super Bowl 60 also marks a return to the Bay Area for Hoofnagle, who attended Monte Vista High School, where she captained the varsity girls’ soccer team. She later studied at the University of South Carolina, continuing to play soccer during her time there, according to posts on her social media accounts.
After completing her studies, Hoofnagle lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, frequently sharing images from Bank of America Stadium. Darnold played for the Carolina Panthers during the 2021–22 NFL season, before the couple publicly acknowledged their relationship.
Hoofnagle confirmed their relationship in a birthday message shared on Instagram, writing: “your huge heart, goofy energy, and ability to quote every movie you’ve ever seen are unmatched. happy 26th birthday, celebrating you is so easy!”
She is reported to work remotely as an account executive for Renvio, a healthcare technology company, a role that allows her to travel with Darnold during the NFL season.
Darnold proposed to Hoofnagle in July 2025, shortly before the start of the 2025–26 NFL season. The proposal took place on a beach in Dana Point, California, where he arranged white flowers in a semi-circle. The couple later held an engagement celebration attended by family, friends and fellow NFL players, including quarterback Josh Allen and his wife, Hailee Steinfeld. Photographs from the event were shared on Instagram with the caption: “YES!!!!!”
Darnold comes from a sporting family. His father, Mike Darnold, played college football and later worked as a medical gas plumber for three decades, while his mother, Chris Darnold, competed in college-level volleyball.
