What Seahawks’ Sam Darnold Confessed to His Dad After Super Bowl Win

Sam Darnold is holding this touchdown close to his heart.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Chris Darnold revealed the heartfelt message he gave his parents, Mike and Chris Darnold, after leading his team to victory in the 2026 Super Bowl against the New England Patriots on February 8th.

After the game, Sam, 28, described the moment as deeply emotional. He explained that he and his father aren’t usually ones to cry, and that he owes his success to his parents’ unwavering support. He told them he wouldn’t be where he is today without their belief in him, which ultimately allowed him to believe in himself.

He explained that people often thought he was crazy for having such strong self-belief and confidence. He credited his parents with giving him the freedom to play with confidence and without hesitation.

Sam Darnold’s parents understood he needed support as he pursued his football dreams. Both Chris and Mike were college athletes themselves – his father played football at the University of Redlands, and his mother was a successful volleyball player at Long Beach City College. They also have a daughter named Franki Darnold.

Sam received a lot of praise after the Seahawks won the biggest football game of the year, defeating the Patriots 29-13. Soon after the game in California, ESPN shared a touching Instagram video of Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald congratulating Sam on leading the team to victory.

In the video, a man congratulated the quarterback, calling him a Super Bowl champion and embracing him. He then turned to the coach, tipping his hat and saying, “I love you, man. Thank you for believing in me.”

Sam, who is engaged to Katie Hoofnagle, was thrilled to celebrate his team’s second Super Bowl victory. They last won the championship in 2014, defeating the Denver Broncos with a score of 43-8, and he was quick to credit his teammates’ hard work for making it happen.

He said in a post-game interview that he wouldn’t trade his career experiences for anything, especially not doing them with this team. He also shared how proud he was of his players.

The Seahawks’ running back Kenneth Walker echoed the sentiment.

Honestly, it feels incredible! As someone who’s followed countless journeys, I can tell you reaching this point is a huge accomplishment. So many talented people dedicate their lives to this, and never get to experience this level of success. It’s truly a dream realized.

Continue scrolling to relive the best moments from the Super Bowl, including appearances by famous faces and Bad Bunny’s incredible halftime show…

Following his halftime performance, Bad Bunny was joined onstage at Levi’s Stadium by several celebrities who had been taking photos backstage. They danced along with him to his hit song, “Yo Perreo Sola.”

Bad Bunny thrilled the Super Bowl 2026 halftime audience, especially with a special guest appearance by Lady Gaga.

Jay-Z took his daughters, who are 14 and 8 years old, to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California, in 2026. Beyoncé was also there with them.

The rapper took photos before the Seahawks and Patriots played their big game.

The Scream Queens alum cheered on her team from the Raising Cane’s suite.

The Blackpink singer was repping Levi’s while getting a ride into the stadium.

Looks like he indeed had his head in the game.

The rapper had his playlist on lock for the NFL championship.

The Love Island USA couple arrived with a splash at the Raising Cane’s hospitality area inside Levi’s Stadium.

The Baby Driver actress was calm, cool and collected while watching the action unfold.

The Titanic star made a lowkey entrance into Levi’s Stadium.

The couple had a winning date night at the 2026 Super Bowl with matching ‘fits.

The actor—who split with Katy Perry last year—kept it casual in all-black for the California event.

The former Dancing With the Stars contestant, who was recently linked to Tom Brady, wore a leather crop top and jeans to the game.

The longtime Patriots fan attended the game to introduce his fav NFL team before kickoff.

The Marvel actor was there to officially welcome the Seattle Seahawks and made it a special day by bringing his son along.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who is engaged to Taylor Swift, didn’t reach the championship game this year, but he was there to cheer on his team from the sidelines.

The singers were all smiles from their suite.

From Down Under to the Bay Area! The Dancing With the Stars winner has sashayed into San Francisco.

The Latin Grammy winner completed his game day look with a black beret and shades.

Now, the Office actor just needs some of his famous chili to level up his Super Bowl experience.

Okay, so I was totally watching the band, and they were with Michael Rapino, the CEO of Live Nation! It was amazing – they were clearly focused and paying attention, like they knew exactly what was happening, and he was right there with them. It felt like a huge moment, a sign of even bigger things to come, honestly. I could just feel the energy!