Quarterback Sam Darnold faced major career competition when he joined the Minnesota Vikings. He was initially selected by the New York Jets with the third overall pick in 2018 NFL draft. Darnold was the signal caller in the Big Apple until 2020 when he was traded to the Carolina Panthers. After two seasons with that team, he was sent to the San Francisco 49ers to serve as a rookie backup Brooke Purdy Before being traded back to the Vikings.
And so in Minnesota, Sam Darnold’s return occurred after rookie JJ McCarthy’s season-ending injury. The quarterback, who other teams had given up on, began to blossom in the 2024 season. He made the Pro Bowl and led the team to a 14-3 record and a trip to the playoffs.
Now fans want to know all about Darnold and his life off the field. Here’s more The athlete and his girlfriend, Katie Hufnagle.
How long have Darnold and Hufnagle been together?
Darnold and Hufnagle began dating in 2023 while he was still a member of the Niners. They went Instagram official when she shared a post celebrating his birthday that read: “Your huge heart, goofy energy, and ability to quote every movie I’ve ever seen is unparalleled. Happy 26th birthday, celebrating you is so easy!”
Some fans were confused that the NFL player was dating “Hawk Tuah Girl” Haley Welch in 2024 when she decided to reveal the identity of her boyfriend named “Pookie,” and a photo of Darnold was shown in a teaser post. Then rumors started circulating about a relationship between the two. However, Welch set this record straight and shared that she was not dating Donald because her beau doesn’t play football. He’s actually a plumber and his name is Kelby Blackwell.
Although at the time this chatter didn’t seem to bother Hoofnagle who is always posting pictures and showing her support for Darnold as much as possible on social media.
What Hoofnagle does for a living
There is not much information available about Hoofnagle’s background. But we do know that she attended the University of South Carolina where she played defenseman on the school’s football team for all four years she spent there.
I graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business administration.
According to her LinkedIn Profile Hoofnagle currently works as an account executive at Renvio, a Minneapolis-based company specializing in technology solutions.
She previously worked as an assistant loan officer at another company before rising through the ranks to become an account manager and then a mortgage loan officer. She also interned at Wells Fargo on the Wholesale Marketing and Content Strategy team.
Additionally, Hoofnagle volunteers with the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity and the Make-A-Wish chapter of South Carolina.
Darnold called Hufnagel his “best friend” and describes him as her “favorite person.”
Hufnagle and Darnold referred to each other as their “best friend” and “favorite person.”
After the caller publicly described his lady as his “best friend,” she in turn took to Instagram with a birthday post for her boyfriend, writing: “Happy 27th birthday to my favorite person!! You light up every room with your authenticity, smart sense of humor, and kind heart. You are thoughtful, intentional, and appreciate the little things in Life. To know you is to love you!
