Katie Hoofnagle is an American marketing specialist and former college soccer player best known as the wife of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. Raised in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, she graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2020 and built a career in mortgage lending and marketing. She supported Darnold throughout his NFL journey, including his Super Bowl victory in February 2026. The couple married on April 3, 2026, after getting engaged in July 2025.
Who Is Katie Hoofnagle?
Katie Hoofnagle is a California native, marketing specialist, and former soccer player. She previously worked at Loan Pronto in Charlotte before joining Renvio, a healthcare technology company. Her relationship with NFL quarterback Sam Darnold became public in 2023, and she has since supported him through major career moments, including his Super Bowl victory. The couple also attended the 2025 NFL Honors together.
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Katie Hoofnagle is a California native, marketing specialist, and former soccer player. She previously worked at Loan Pronto in Charlotte before joining Renvio, a healthcare technology company. Her relationship with NFL quarterback Sam Darnold became public in 2023, and she has since supported…
Read this sectionPersonal Details
| Full name | Katie Hoofnagle |
| Age | 28 in 2026 |
| Birthplace | Not publicly confirmed |
| Hometown | San Francisco Bay Area, California |
| High school | Monte Vista High School |
| College | University of South Carolina |
| Graduation year | 2020 |
| Degree | Bachelor of Science in Business Administration |
| Profession | Marketing specialist |
| Known employer | Renvio |
| Husband | Sam Darnold |
| Marriage date | April 3, 2026 |
| @_hoofy |
Early Life and Education
Katie Hoofnagle grew up in Northern California and attended Monte Vista High School, where she captained the varsity soccer team. In 2016, she enrolled at the University of South Carolina, joined the women’s club soccer team, and became a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She also studied abroad in Florence, Italy, during spring 2019.
Hoofnagle graduated in 2020 with a business administration degree, majoring in marketing and minoring in nutrition and food systems. Instead of returning to California, she moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to begin her career. Her education and college activities are documented on her LinkedIn profile.
What Does Katie Hoofnagle Do for Work?
Katie Hoofnagle has a background in mortgage lending, account management, and marketing. After graduating, she joined Loan Pronto in Charlotte, where she worked for nearly four years. She started as a loan officer assistant, became an account manager, and later worked as a mortgage loan officer.
In 2024, Hoofnagle joined Renvio, a healthcare technology company, as an account executive before becoming a remote marketing specialist in July 2025. Her remote position allowed her to continue working despite Darnold’s NFL moves. She has also reportedly collaborated with brands such as Jo Malone London and DoorDash.
How Did Katie Hoofnagle Meet Sam Darnold?
Katie Hoofnagle and Sam Darnold first met at a bar in Charlotte, North Carolina, through a mutual friend, as confirmed by PEOPLE’s April 2026 wedding report. Hoofnagle moved to Charlotte after graduating in 2020, while Darnold joined the Carolina Panthers in 2021. Their time in the same city eventually brought them together.
The couple kept their relationship relatively private before going public on Instagram in 2023. Katie first shared photos featuring Darnold in April, followed by a birthday tribute on June 5, 2023. In the post, she celebrated his 26th birthday and praised his humor, personality, and love of quoting movies.
Their Relationship Through Darnold’s NFL Career
Katie Hoofnagle has supported Sam Darnold through several major NFL moves, including his time with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 and the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. She celebrated the 49ers’ NFC Championship victory and stood by Darnold during his successful Vikings season, when he threw 35 touchdowns and led the team to a 14-3 record.
After he signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in March 2025, Katie continued supporting him as he led Seattle to an NFC Championship and his first Super Bowl victory as a starting quarterback in February 2026.
When Did Sam Darnold Propose to Katie Hoofnagle?
Sam Darnold proposed to Katie Hoofnagle on July 5, 2025, on a beach in Dana Point, California. The couple announced their engagement on Instagram two days later, sharing photos of Darnold getting down on one knee and Katie showing off her radiant-cut diamond ring with a pavé band. She later posted more pictures from the special day. Their engagement came shortly before Darnold’s first season with the Seattle Seahawks, and they married on April 3, 2026.
Katie Hoofnagle and Sam Darnold’s Wedding
Katie Hoofnagle and Sam Darnold married on April 3, 2026, at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Their wedding welcomed 227 guests, who followed an all-black, black-tie dress code. Katie wore a strapless lace gown from Anthropologie, while Darnold chose a custom Tom Ford suit.
The couple exchanged handwritten vows during an outdoor, phone-free ceremony officiated by Darnold’s close friend and marketing agent, Tee Stumb. The guest list included NFL stars Josh Allen, Christian McCaffrey, Cooper Kupp, Drew Lock, and Luke Kuechly, along with Hailee Steinfeld and Olivia Culpo.
Their reception featured live music, a three-course dinner, and late-night In-N-Out burgers. The couple shared their first dance to Chris Stapleton’s It Takes a Woman. The wedding came less than two months after Darnold’s Super Bowl LX victory, giving him a second ring in 2026, as noted in the Seattle Seahawks’ official announcement.
How Katie Supported Darnold’s Super Bowl Win
Katie Hoofnagle stood by Sam Darnold throughout the Seattle Seahawks’ successful 2025 NFL season, celebrating his biggest career moments.
- Regular Season: Seattle finished with a 14-3 record and secured the NFC’s top playoff seed.
- NFC Championship: On January 25, 2026, Darnold threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
- On-Field Celebration: Katie celebrated the NFC title with Darnold, sharing a kiss on the field and posting photos on Instagram.
- Emotional Support: Before Super Bowl LX, Darnold credited Katie with keeping him calm and motivated throughout the season.
- Super Bowl Victory: On February 8, 2026, Seattle defeated the New England Patriots 29-13, earning its second Super Bowl title. Katie celebrated Darnold’s first championship as a starting quarterback.
Katie Hoofnagle’s Life Beyond Football
Outside her relationship with Sam Darnold, Katie Hoofnagle has a background in soccer and a career in marketing. In a March 2025 interview with Us Weekly, Darnold said her experience as a former athlete helped her understand the demands of professional football.
Katie has also developed friendships within the NFL community, including with Ann Michael Maye, wife of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. Their friendship drew attention ahead of Super Bowl LX, when their husbands faced each other. Despite her public appearances, Katie keeps much of her personal life private, sharing occasional updates about travel, family, and special moments.
Katie Hoofnagle’s Life After Marriage
Katie Hoofnagle entered 2026 with two major celebrations ahead of her. Her longtime partner won the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in February, and the couple married in California less than two months later. Their wedding marked a new chapter in a relationship that had already taken them through multiple NFL teams and cities.
Away from the football field, Hoofnagle has maintained her own professional identity through her work in marketing. Her background in soccer, education at the University of South Carolina, and experience in the mortgage and technology industries remain important parts of her story. Her marriage to Darnold has increased public interest in her life, but her career and personal achievements tell a fuller story of who she is.
Instagram and Public Moments
Katie Hoofnagle shares moments from her personal life, travels, and Sam Darnold’s NFL career on Instagram. She has posted photos from their July 2025 engagement, Seattle’s NFC Championship celebration, and their April 2026 wedding. The couple also appeared together on the red carpet at the 2025 NFL Honors in New Orleans.
| Social Media Platform | Official Profile |
|---|---|
| @_hoofy | |
| Katie Hoofnagle |
View this post on Instagram
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Katie Hoofnagle married to Sam Darnold?
Katie Hoofnagle is married to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. The couple married on April 3, 2026, at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in California.
Where did Katie Hoofnagle go to college?
She attended the University of South Carolina from 2016 to 2020. She earned a business administration degree with a marketing major and a minor in nutrition and food systems.
What is Katie Hoofnagle’s job?
Katie Hoofnagle has worked as a marketing specialist at Renvio, a healthcare software company. Her previous experience includes account management and mortgage lending at Loan Pronto.
How did Sam Darnold meet his wife?
Sam Darnold and Katie Hoofnagle met at a bar in Charlotte, North Carolina, through a mutual friend. Their relationship became public in 2023.
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