Katie Hoofnagle spent years working a marketing job most fans had never heard of while quietly dating one of the NFL's most scrutinized quarterbacks. Then Sam Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl LX win in February 2026, and less than two months later, Hoofnagle became his wife, turning a name football fans had only half-noticed into one of the most searched in sports.
Who Is Katie Hoofnagle, Sam Darnold's Wife?
Katie Hoofnagle was born on December 3, 1997, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, which puts Katie Hoofnagle's age at 28. She grew up in Danville, California, attending Monte Vista High School before heading east for college, a decision she has described as a deliberate choice to build her own path rather than return home after graduation.
She played club soccer as a defender for the South Carolina Gamecocks, starting in 67 games across four seasons and earning a degree in marketing from the University of South Carolina. That athletic background has become something she and Darnold bond over directly, with Darnold telling Us Weekly that her understanding of what competitive sports demand makes her uniquely suited to support him through an NFL season.
Katie Hoofnagle's Job and Career
Katie Hoofnagle's job today is as a marketing specialist at Renvio, a company that builds software supporting dialysis care providers. She began there as an account executive in October 2024 before moving into her current marketing role in July 2025.
Before that, she spent nearly four years at Loan Pronto in Charlotte, North Carolina, starting as a loan officer assistant in August 2020 and working her way up to account manager and eventually mortgage loan officer. Earlier still, she worked as a retail sales associate in the women's athletic department at Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament. Explaining her decision to build a career away from her home state, Hoofnagle wrote on LinkedIn that returning to California after college would not have given her the personal growth she needed, and that she wanted to put down new roots somewhere unfamiliar.
How Katie Hoofnagle Met Sam Darnold
The exact circumstances of how Hoofnagle and Darnold met have never been confirmed publicly, but the timeline lines up with his time playing for the Carolina Panthers, based in Charlotte, the same city where Hoofnagle was building her career. Sports Illustrated has also reported the two connected after Darnold was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in March 2023, given that Hoofnagle is originally from the Bay Area herself.
Whatever the exact origin, the couple went Instagram official on June 5, 2023, when Hoofnagle posted a tribute for Darnold's 26th birthday, praising what she called his huge heart and goofy energy. From that point forward, she became a consistent presence at his games, regardless of which team he was playing for as his career moved between the Jets, Panthers, 49ers, and Vikings before landing in Seattle.
Sam Darnold Proposes to Katie Hoofnagle
Darnold proposed to Hoofnagle on a beach in Dana Point, California, with the couple announcing their engagement on Instagram on July 7, 2025. Hoofnagle shared a series of photos from the moment along with an emphatic caption confirming she had said yes, including images of the two dancing together on the sand afterward.
The engagement came just months before Darnold's biggest season yet. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks in March 2025, and Hoofnagle was by his side throughout the year that followed, appearing consistently at games and sharing glimpses of the season on her Instagram.
Katie Hoofnagle at Super Bowl LX
Hoofnagle's support became especially visible during the Seahawks' run to Super Bowl LX. After Seattle secured the NFC Championship on January 25, 2026, with Darnold throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns, Hoofnagle ran onto the field to celebrate with him, a moment captured live by ESPN cameras.
On February 8, 2026, the Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29 to 13 to win Super Bowl LX, and Hoofnagle was there for the celebration, sharing an emotional embrace with Darnold on the field afterward. Darnold spoke about her role in his journey during Super Bowl opening night, telling reporters she reminds him why he goes to work every single day and makes the long season worthwhile.
Katie Hoofnagle and Sam Darnold's Wedding
Just under two months after the Super Bowl win, Darnold and Hoofnagle married on April 3, 2026, at Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Hoofnagle announced the news herself on her Instagram Story with a photo of her wedding ring, captioned simply that she now had a husband.
The wedding drew a notable guest list from across the NFL, including Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and his wife Hailee Steinfeld, Christian McCaffrey and his wife Olivia Culpo, and Seahawks teammate Cooper Kupp with his wife Ann Marie. Allen and Steinfeld reportedly attended just days after announcing the birth of their own daughter.
Katie Hoofnagle's Net Worth
Katie Hoofnagle's net worth has not been publicly disclosed, and unlike her husband's NFL salary, her earnings come from a private sector marketing career rather than a publicly reported contract. Her income has been built through roles in mortgage lending and, more recently, healthcare technology marketing at Renvio, a career path she built independently in the years before her relationship with Darnold became widely known.
Katie Hoofnagle in 2026
As of 2026, Hoofnagle continues working in her marketing role while adjusting to life as the wife of one of the NFL's most talked about quarterbacks. She remains close with other NFL wives and girlfriends, including Ann Michael Maye, wife of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, with the two even appearing together in a sponsored DoorDash advertisement ahead of the Super Bowl their husbands' teams competed in. Despite the growing attention, Hoofnagle has kept her social media presence relatively modest, continuing to share glimpses of her life with Darnold without stepping into a full public persona of her own.
Katie Hoofnagle Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Katie Hoofnagle (now Katie Darnold) |
| Age | 28 |
| Born | December 3, 1997, San Francisco Bay Area, California |
| Hometown | Danville, California |
| Education | University of South Carolina, Marketing |
| Job | Marketing Specialist, Renvio |
| Spouse | Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks quarterback |
| Engaged | July 7, 2025, Dana Point, California |
| Married | April 3, 2026, Rancho Santa Fe, California |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Katie Hoofnagle?
Katie Hoofnagle is the wife of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. She works as a marketing specialist at healthcare technology company Renvio and previously played club soccer at the University of South Carolina.
How old is Katie Hoofnagle?
Katie Hoofnagle was born on December 3, 1997, making her 28 years old.
What is Katie Hoofnagle's job?
Hoofnagle works as a marketing specialist at Renvio, a software company serving dialysis care providers. She previously worked in mortgage lending at Loan Pronto in Charlotte, North Carolina.
When did Katie Hoofnagle marry Sam Darnold?
The couple married on April 3, 2026, at Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa in Rancho Santa Fe, California, roughly two months after Darnold led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl LX win.
What is Katie Hoofnagle's net worth?
Katie Hoofnagle's exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed. Her income comes from her marketing career, separate from her husband's NFL earnings.