Sam Darnold is holding this touchdown close to his heart.
The Seattle Seahawks quarterback shared the sweet words he told his parents Chris Darnold and Mike Darnold after his team won the 2026 Super Bowl against the New England Patriots on Feb. 8.
“It’s special,” Sam, 28, said during his post-game interview. “I think that’s what kind of got me a little bit. Me and my dad don’t really cry very often. I told my dad and my mom I’m here because of their belief. They believed in me throughout my entire career, and I think that’s why I was able to believe in myself, almost ad nauseam.”
He continued, “Some people called me crazy throughout my career for believing in myself so much and having so much confidence. But, you know, it was because of my parents. It allowed me to go out there and play free and have a ton of confidence.”
Indeed, the NFL player’s parents knew their son needed some encouragement when chasing his dreams on the field. After all, Chris and Mike—who also share daughter Franki Darnold—were both athletes during their college years. Sam’s dad played football at the University of Redlands, while his mom had an impressive run on Long Beach City’s volleyball team.