• Sam Darnold and Katie Hoofnagle went public in June 2023 and announced their engagement in July 2025.
• Hoofnagle is a former college soccer captain who attended Monte Vista High and the University of South Carolina.
• She has supported Darnold through multiple team moves and joined him on the NFL Honors red carpet in 2025.
• Darnold credited his fiancée for keeping him calm ahead of Super Bowl 60.
Who is Katie Hoofnagle?
Katie Hoofnagle is the fiancée of Seahawks QB Sam Darnold. A longtime athlete and soccer player, she grew up in the Bay Area and made a name for herself on the pitch before becoming a visible presence alongside Darnold during his NFL journey.
Early life and education
Hoofnagle attended Monte Vista High School in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she captained the varsity soccer team. She continued playing soccer at the University of South Carolina after high school and later lived in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Relationship timeline
Hoofnagle and Darnold hard-launched their relationship on Instagram in June 2023. The pair stayed relatively private before going public but have shared milestone moments on social media and at events. They announced their engagement in July 2025 via Instagram, posting a series of photos from an engagement shoot on a beach in Dana Point, California.
Embedded post — Engagement announcement (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/p/DL09vj3J9KA/?hl=en
Public appearances
The couple made a red-carpet debut at the 2025 NFL Honors, where they posed together and drew attention as one of the NFL’s newest high-profile pairs. Hoofnagle’s social posts show support at playoff games and championship celebrations, including images after the Seahawks won the NFC championship.
Support through Darnold’s career moves
Darnold has played for several NFL teams since entering the league in 2018, including the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings and now the Seattle Seahawks. Hoofnagle has been visible in posts celebrating his moves — from cheering “SKOL!” when Darnold joined the Vikings to sharing images after big wins.
Super Bowl 60 and a steady presence
Ahead of Super Bowl 60, Darnold publicly praised Hoofnagle for helping him stay calm under pressure. In a Super Bowl opening-night interview he said she “does a lot for me, and she keeps me calm” (see clip): https://youtu.be/ypNV-d-Ep9I?t=2314
Connections and social circle
Hoofnagle’s Instagram indicates she’s friends with Ann Michael Maye, wife of Patriots QB Drake Maye — a notable connection since Drake Maye and Darnold were set to face off in Super Bowl 60.
What’s next
Following their July 2025 engagement and public appearances through the 2025–26 season, Hoofnagle remains an active, supportive presence in Darnold’s life. With the couple preparing for their future off the field, expect more joint appearances and social updates as they move toward marriage.
For direct sources: Engagement post — https://www.instagram.com/p/DL09vj3J9KA/?hl=en. Darnold interview clip — https://youtu.be/ypNV-d-Ep9I?t=2314.
Image Referance: https://www.today.com/news/sports/sam-darnold-wife-fiancee-katie-hoofnagle-relationship-rcna257267