Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has a touchdown-worthy love story along with his fiancée, Katie Hoofnagle.
“Amidst the chaos of our on a regular basis lives, on daily basis spent with you is full of an abundance of peace, laughter, presence, joy and love,” Hoofnagle wrote via Instagram in June 2025, celebrating Darnold’s birthday. “Here’s to a different trip across the sun sharing good meals, good music, and good company.”
She continued, “Completely happy twenty eighth birthday to my higher half, I like you more.”
Hoofnagle began 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 sector after he led the Seahawks to victory within the 2026 NFC Championship game.
“I like you,” Hoofnagle gushed in January 2026, sealing Darnold’s win with a kiss. “I’m so pleased with you. Hey, you probably 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.
“Completely 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 began posting photos from the sidelines of Arnold’s 49ers games.
June 2023
Hoofnagle gushed over Darnold in a twenty sixth birthday tribute.
“Your huge heart, goofy energy and talent to cite every movie you’ve ever seen are unmatched,” she wrote via Instagram. “Completely happy twenty sixth birthday, celebrating you is very easy!”
February 2025
Darnold and Hoofnagle made their red carpet debut on 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 perfect day ever 🕊️. Here’s to ceaselessly 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 within the NFC Championship, securing a spot within the 2026 Super Bowl. At the tip of the sport, Hoofnagle raced onto the sector to have fun together 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 Recent England Patriots in Super Bowl LX in February 2026.
“[It’s] amazing, but to find a way 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 sooner or later at a time, each day. To find a way to do it with these guys … it’s a special group, and I wouldn’t need 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 within the build-up to Super Bowl LX.
“I believe it comes back to having an incredible fiancée,” he told reporters during media availability. “She does quite a bit for me. She keeps me calm. She jogs my memory of why I do what I do, why I’m going to work each day.”
He added, “I like this game, I like my teammates, love my coaching staff, it doesn’t at all times feel like work. But sometimes, the season can get long. She makes all of it worthwhile.”