‘My Dad Don’t Cry Very Often’: Seahawks QB Sam Darnold Gets Emotional Celebrating Super Bowl With His Parents

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had his parents proudly celebrating with him following his Super Bowl LX triumph over the New England Patriots on Sunday, February 8, 2026, in Santa Clara. The event was held at Levi’s Stadium, one that Sam Darnold is very familiar with while with the San Francisco 49ers. 

Unlike a couple of years back when Darnold was confined to the sidelines as a backup quarterback for San Francisco’s Brock Purdy, Sunday night saw Darnold announce himself as one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, and one to reckon with in recent times.

Emotional Super Bowl Night for Sam Darnold and Dad

Darnold celebrated the Super Bowl triumph with those who supported him the most through his topsy-turvy career. His father, Michael, his mom, Chris, and his fiancée, Katie, were all in attendance to cheer him up.

Speaking about the family-knit celebrations, Darnold described the emotional moment among his loved ones as rare. In his words, 

“Me and my dad don’t really cry very often and I told my dad, and my mom, I’m here because of their belief in me. They believed in me throughout my entire career and I think that’s why I was able to believe in myself almost ad nauseam.”

HEARTWARMING: #Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold CRIED with his parents after the game saying that they believed in him and that is why he won the Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/mHm4LwcrZD

“It was because of my parents. Because of the way that they believed in me, throughout my entire…

— MLFootball (@MLFootball) February 9, 2026

Right under the bright lights and in the all-too-familiar Bay Area on Sunday night, Darnold clinched the Lombardi Trophy during his first year with the Seattle Seahawks. It was his fifth team in an eight-year turbulent career.

After being drafted third overall by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2018 draft from USC, Darnold walked a path few possibly anticipated. He had a 13-25 record and a 78.6 passer rating over his initial three seasons for the Jets – the second worst in the league of 43 quarterbacks with at least 15 starts between 2018/20.

However, just like he did in his career, Darnold hung tough for the Seahawks – through ups and downs, over and over again. Just as he had done several times before while facing doubters who called him “washed”, Darnold stepped into the Big Game as an experienced pro, defying prior labels to rewrite his own story. For the Seahawks, who saw off the New England Patriots with a dominant 29-13 victory at the Big Game, this triumph meant a second-ever Super Bowl win.

Both the Seahawks and Sam Darnold have had amazing turnaround stories over the last season. Even more, the Darnold family has an epic family moment to remember, a rare emotional moment that has now gone viral.