Quarterback Sam Darnold experienced quite a career rival when he joined the Minnesota Vikings. He was initially selected by the New York Jets with the third overall pick in the 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 backup to starter Brock Purdy before being traded again to the Vikings.  

And thus in Minnesota, the resurgence of Sam Darnold happened following a season-ending injury to rookie J. J. McCarthy. The quarterback the other teams had given up on began to thrive in the 2024 season. He made the Pro Bowl and led the team to a 14-2 record and a trip to the playoffs.

Now fans want to learn all about Darnold and his life off the field. Here’s more on the athlete and his girlfriend, Katie Hoofnagle.

How long Darnold and Hoofnagle have been together

Darnold and Hoofnagle started dating in 2023 when he was still a member of the Niners. They became Instagram official when she shared a post celebrating his birthday that read: “Your huge heart, goofy energy, and ability to quote every movie you’ve ever seen are unmatched. Happy 26th birthday, celebrating you is so easy!”

Some fans were confused that the NFL player was dating “Hawk Tuah Girl” Haliey Welch in 2024 when she decided to reveal the identity of her boyfriend, called “Pookie,” and Darnold’s photo was shown in a teaser post. Rumors then began swirling about a relationship between the two. However, Welch set that record straight and shared that she was not dating Donald as her beau doesn’t even play football. He’s actually a plumber and his name is Kelby Blackwell.

That chatter at the time though didn’t seem to bother Hoofnagle who always posts pictures and shows her support for Darnold as much as possible on social media.

What Hoofnagle does for a living

There isn’t a ton of information available about Hoofnagle’s background. But we do know that she attended the University of South Carolina where she played on defense on the school’s soccer team all four years she was there.

She graduated in 2020 with a degree in marketing and business administration.

According to her LinkedIn, Hoofnagle currently works as an Account Executive at Renvio, a Minneapolis-based company that specializes in tech solutions.

She previously worked as a Loan Officer Assistant for another company before moving up the ranks to become an account manager and later a Mortgage Loan Officer. She also interned at Wells Fargo on the Wholesale Content Marketing and Strategy team.

In addition, Hoofnagle has volunteered with the non-profits Habitat for Humanity and the Make-A-Wish South Carolina chapter.

Darnold called Hoofnagle his ‘best friend’ and she calls him her ‘favorite person’

Hoofnagle and Darnold have referred to one another as their “best friend” and “favorite person.”

After he publicly called his girlfriend 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, witty sense of humor, and kind heart. You’re thoughtful, intentional, and appreciate the little things in life. To know you is to love you!”