‘The DNA of a Quarterback’: Inside the Lives of Sam Darnold’s Parents Who Shaped the Seahawks Star

From the start of his professional football journey, Sam Darnold has received constant support from his parents, Mike and Chris Darnold. Their presence has been a steady force throughout his NFL career, and they were the first people he contacted after being named the starting quarterback for the New York Jets.

That moment was emotional for the entire family. In an interview with ESPN in September 2018, Darnold recalled how his mother reacted to the news. “Mom was crying,” he said. “As usual.”

After spending three seasons with the Jets, Darnold continued his NFL career with several other teams before signing with the Seattle Seahawks in 2025. The move not only marked another step in his professional contract history but also brought him closer to the Southern California beach town where he grew up.

Years before Sam’s rise as an NFL quarterback, Mike and Chris Darnold settled in Capistrano Beach, California. According to Sports Illustrated, the couple purchased a small home there in the 1990s and later welcomed their daughter Franki in May 1994 and their son Sam in June 1997. Both children followed their parents’ athletic influence—Franki played volleyball at the University of Rhode Island, while Sam quickly stood out as a gifted quarterback. “He was so naturally gifted, it was crazy,” Chris told Bleacher Report in August 2017. “I had to stop playing catch with him when he was in the third grade, he threw so hard.”

With growing interest in Sam Darnold’s biography, NFL journey, and net worth, his parents’ influence remains a key part of his story. Here’s everything to know about Sam Darnold’s parents, Chris and Mike Darnold.

Chris’ father was the Marlboro Man

Long before Sam Darnold became a well-known name in the NFL, the most prominent athlete in his family was his maternal grandfather. Dick Hammer, the father of Chris Darnold, played college basketball at the University of Southern California and was part of USC’s Final Four team in 1954, according to Bleacher Report. He later represented the United States as a member of the U.S. Olympic men’s volleyball team in 1964.

Outside of sports, Dick balanced a demanding professional life. While he spent most of his career working as a firefighter and special education teacher, he also pursued acting on a part-time basis. One of his most recognizable roles was appearing as the Marlboro Man on billboards throughout California, Sports Illustrated reported. Although Sam was only 2 years old when his grandfather passed away, Chris has said she believes their athletic traits were closely connected.

Reflecting on those similarities, Chris shared how the family often joked about Sam’s natural abilities. “When Sam was really little, we used to tease him because we would say he got all the DNA because he could do anything,” she told reporters in March 2020, per Fox Sports. She added that Sam inherited her father’s agility and athletic instincts, noting that Dick could learn a sport simply by watching others play — a quality she sees mirrored in Sam’s NFL quarterback journey and overall athletic profile.

Mike and Chris got married in the 1990s 

Long before their lives were shaped by professional football, Mike and Chris Darnold chose a simple beginning. Instead of a large wedding celebration in the early 1990s, they opted for a modest ceremony and later told Sports Illustrated they held a small reception at a family member’s home. The decision allowed them to save money for a down payment on a single-story house — a place that would unexpectedly become the heart of their family life for the next 20 years.

Over time, that house evolved along with the family. The couple eventually renovated the home and added a second story, and it remains especially meaningful to Sam. His sister Franki often jokes about his attachment to it. “People always ask, ‘When your brother makes it, will he buy them a house?’” she told Sports Illustrated. “And I tell them, ‘No, but he’ll probably buy their house.’”

They share two kids 

During their years together, Mike and Chris Darnold became parents to two children. Their daughter Franki was born on May 26, 1994, according to her University of Rhode Island bio, followed by the arrival of their son Sam on June 5, 1997, nearly three years later. Mike later shared with Bleacher Report that he initially had a very different name in mind for his son.

That idea didn’t last long. “I wanted a tough name,” Mike explained, but Chris quickly shut it down. Laughing, she responded, “Buck? I was not going to name my son Buck.”

Mike is a medical gas plumber

Throughout his professional life, Mike Darnold has built a long and steady career in the trades. He has worked as a medical gas plumber for more than 30 years, and as of 2017, he was responsible for overseeing plumbing operations at UC Irvine Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of Orange County, according to Sports Illustrated.

Reflecting on his work ethic years later, Mike spoke about the values that shaped both his career and his family. “As I look back on my experience as a tradesperson, I took pride in my dependability,” he said at a Lowe’s Foundation event in May 2025. He emphasized the importance of being early, staying late when needed, and doing the job right, adding that this mindset made him a valuable contributor and set an example for his children — something he believes played a role in Sam’s athletic development over the years.

Chris is a P.E. teacher 

For much of her professional life, Chris Darnold worked as a physical education teacher for middle school students in Southern California, according to Sports Illustrated. She later shared on the Your Mom podcast that although both of her children attended the school where she taught, she only ever had Franki as a student in her own class.

Looking back on her approach to parenting and teaching, Chris explained why she kept a certain distance in the classroom. “I’ve learned throughout the course of my life that my kids have learned enough from me,” she said during a September 2022 interview. She added that it was important to her and Mike that Sam focus on leadership — doing his best and helping those around him improve.

Sam advised his mom to stop paying attention to critics

Even as Sam Darnold rose under intense public scrutiny, he became a source of guidance for his mother. In an April 2018 interview with Sports Illustrated, Chris explained that Sam often helps her deal with critics by reminding her, “not read everything.”

Watching her son live in the constant NFL spotlight hasn’t been easy. “That’s been hard,” she admitted. “He’s the one that, he comes home and he’ll go, ‘Mom, don’t read everything,’ ‘Mom, turn that off.’”

Despite the challenges, the pride Mike and Chris feel in Sam far outweighs any criticism. “One day you open your eyes and it’s, ‘Holy cow, your son is in this position,’” Mike told Bleacher Report. “I mean, it’s crazy, right? Crazy, crazy, crazy — one in a million.” He added, “Sam’s not flashy, he’s not a yeller, he’s not a trophy collector, a bragger. But I feel like we worked hard to raise our kids the right way. And it’s paid off.”