It's taken a long time — and a lot of heartbreak — for Sam Darnold to reach the upper echelons of the NFL. The Seahawks hurler was felled by injury and poor performance in his earliest campaigns, traipsing across the country in the hopes of holding down a starting gig.
Now, he has it. The former No. 3 pick, Darnold's ascendancy isn't wholly surprising. Scouts tipped him to be successful, but the circumstances of his growth — and the rapid nature by which it materialized — has made for compelling viewing, to say the least.
Given his recent exploits — and the glimmering draft position — the pressure is on Darnold to keep the good times rolling. But regardless of what happens on the field, he'll have quite the entourage to keep him in check.
With that, here's what you need to know about Darnold's family history.
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Sam Darnold fiancee: Katie Hoofnagle
Darnold's fiancee is Katie Hoofnagle. The two have been dating since 2023, per Us Weekly.
Much like Darnold, Hoofnagle is a California native, having attended Monte Vista High School. She played soccer for the Mustangs, falling one round short of the state title.
Darnold cited her athletic experience as one reason why the couple jells with one another.
“The support [from] my girlfriend is unbelievable,” Darnold said. “You know, the fact that she just understands it. She’s a former athlete herself, and just gets kind of the grind of everything. When I just want to chill, she’s very up for that, especially during the season.”
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Darnold proposed to Hoofnagle in July 2025, dropping to one knee while the two were perched atop the hillside in Dana's Point, Calif. The jousting waves and glint sun accompanied the duo as they danced, kissed and rejoiced along the beach.
Sam Darnold dad: Mike Darnold Jr.
Darnold's father is Mike Darnold Jr.. He played guard at the University of Redlands before embarking on a career as a medical gas plumber.
As expected, athletics were a vital part of the Darnold family's lives. But it wasn't the only thing. Yes, Sam tried his luck at a variety of sports — taekwondo, basketball, T-ball, soccer and, of course, football.
But the Darnolds weren't interested in forcing their children into the mire of private trainers and glitzy travel team ball.
“My parents wouldn’t have allowed it," Darnold told Bleacher Report in 2017.
Perhaps that kept Sam out of the spotlight. But it was an intentional decision, one which, the family believes, made him into a more well-rounded person than he would've been otherwise.
"We’ve always tried to keep things in perspective," Darnold's mom, Chris, said. "Yes, our children have always loved playing sports. But around here, in this part of California, it too often becomes live and die. That’s a big mistake in my opinion. It has to be fun.”
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Sam Darnold mom: Chris Darnold
Darnold's mother is Chris Darnold. She, too, excelled with a ball in her hands — a volleyball, that is. Chris played volleyball at Long Beach City College, paving a path not only for Sam, but also his sister, Franki.
Like her husband, Chris called on Sam to be open about his emotions when playing sports. She still remembers the day in 2009 when tears fell like glaciers beneath her son's eyes. He was a 12-year old rec basketball player at the time, undone by his head coach's piercing words after he missed free throws.
Chris comforted Sam as he sobbed uncontrollably. Then, she gave him some advice.
“Talk to your coach tomorrow,” she said. “Tell him how the yelling makes you feel. It’s always better to be open and honest.”
“So that’s what Sam did,” Chris said. “The coach never screamed at him again.”
Sam Darnold sister: Franki Darnold
Darnold's sister is Franki Darnold. The sporting bug bit her, too; Franki attended San Clemente, the same high school Sam would eventually star at.
After a glistening amateur career that saw her turn out for a handful of club sides, Franki committed to Rhode Island. The 6-footer starred as an outside hitter with the Rams, earning Atlantic 10 All-Conference first team honors in 2014. With her accolade, she became the first Rhode Island talent to receive such an honor in a decade.
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Sam Darnold grandfather: Dick Hammer
Darnold's grandfather is Dick Hammer. If that name sounds familiar, that's because it is, albeit not for the reason you might think.
Hammer preceded Darnold as a USC athlete, doing so six decades before his grandson. He played basketball for the Trojans, leading them to the 1954 Final Four as the team's starting guard.
They haven't been back since.
Hammer was a renaissance man in every sense of the word. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic volleyball team at the 1964 Olympics, broke javelin and decathlon records at Fullerton Junior College and was a firefighter at Universal Studios for a living.
Hammer was a prolific advertisement model, lending his services to Aunt Jemima and, most famously, Marlboro, where he served as the "Marlboro Man."
“They’d ring a bell for that Aunt Jemima commercial and the kids would rush into the room to see it,” Dick's widow, Betty, told the Los Angeles Daily News in 2017. “When Dick was the Marlboro Man, he was on billboards and TV. I was driving on Sunset Boulevard one day, and that’s where they have the biggest billboard in the world, they say. Dick’s picture was on it and I looked up. I almost crashed.”
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Marlboro Man ads
Hammer's likeness sprawled across magazine spreads and billboards across the country. Here are some of his most memorable ads.
Grandfather "Dick Hammer" played Marlboro Man? Of course you smoked Penn St. as freshman in #RoseBowl and will follow Brady in Foxoboro. pic.twitter.com/slMuRzKPDZ
— Obnoxious Boston Fan (@realOBF) January 3, 2017
Found out today the Marlboro Man’s name was Dick Hammer, and that he was Sam Darnold’s grandfather pic.twitter.com/k0UnEIGZKM
— Martin Weiss (@martinweiss) September 5, 2024
Where is Sam Darnold from?
Darnold hails from Capistrano Beach, Calif., a suburban enclave in Orange County. He attended San Clemente High School, joining Brian de la Puente, Sean Harlow, Trevor Insley and Kyle Murphy as NFLers to don Tritons' red-and-black. Other notable alumni include skateboarder Ryan Sheckler and Aaron Johnson, producer of The Fray.
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