Sam Darnold's Wife Opens Up About Their Wedding Weekend in San Diego

Sam Darnold's got a ring on his finger now, and his wife Katie Hoofnagle just gave her first interview about tying the knot with the Seahawks QB. Katie sat down with Hailee Steinfeld, wife of Bills QB Josh Allen, in Steinfeld's "Beau Society" newsletter to talk about the big day in early April. And honestly, it sounds like it was everything they wanted it to be.

How They Met and Got Here

So where do a Seahawks QB and his now-wife connect? At a bar in Charlotte, North Carolina. That's where Sam and Katie were introduced through a mutual friend while they were both living and working there. The rest, as they say, is history. Sam proposed in July 2025 on a beach in Dana Point, California, and Katie announced it on social media. Then came the wedding announcement after the big day, with Katie posting a photo of her ring and the caption, "I have a husband now, btw."

Here's a fun detail: Katie said she was surprised when Sam actually popped the question, even though she knew it was coming. That's the kind of moment you can't really prepare for, no matter how much you see it on the horizon.

A Destination Wedding Built for Connection

The Darnolds planned a San Diego wedding with 235 guests, and they were intentional about every single person on that list. Katie explained that they wanted Friday nuptials so the whole crew could spend the entire weekend together. Since it was a destination wedding for most guests, they gave everyone the chance to make a trip out of it and decompress poolside on Saturday.

Here's what's genuinely cool: Sam and Katie exchanged vows twice. Once over coffee before the ceremony started, and again at the altar in front of everybody. Katie said that doing it this way made her feel present and at peace when they said their vows publicly. She also kept it real about her dress, buying it off the rack from Anthropologie and doing minimal alterations. Made sense given their short engagement window and being in Seattle during most of the planning.

Hailee Steinfeld, attending as a newlywed herself alongside Josh Allen, called the whole vibe electric: "The love in the air felt palpable and reminiscent. And I actually don't think there's anything more fun than being at a wedding with your husband."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.