Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Sam Darnold News Announced After Lone Seahawks Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Feb 10, 2026 7:23 AM ET

Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks couldn't have asked for a better 2025 NFL season. After finishing the regular season with a 14-3 record, the Seahawks earned the NFC's No. 1 seed, knocking off the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams before defeating Drake Maye and the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX.

Darnold has now completed the first season of the three-year, $100.5 million contract he signed with Seattle last offseason. The former Minnesota Vikings quarterback impressed during the playoffs, completing 56 of 91 passes for 672 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions over three games. He also earned his second Pro Bowl selection, despite not participating in the game.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14).Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Following the Seahawks’ win over the Patriots, Darnold has stayed busy, making a trip to Disneyland in Los Angeles alongside Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III. The visit came after the two delivered the familiar postgame line, “We’re going to Disneyland,” a tradition for Super Bowl champions. But Darnold wasn’t finished there.

On Monday, it was announced that Darnold will be appearing at Raising Cane’s (4345 University Way NE) in Seattle on Tuesday, which will mark the fast-food chain’s first restaurant in the city. But he won’t be making the public appearance simply to sign autographs or participate in a meet-and-greet with fans.

Instead, Darnold is expected to work a shift at Raising Cane’s, serving chicken and fries to customers and, if they’re lucky, potentially signing autographs as well. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley did something similar following last year’s Super Bowl, appearing at a Raising Cane's in Trevose, Pennsylvania.

"See you tomorrow, Seattle!" Raising Cane's wrote on X. "SAM DARNOLD FEB. 10 3–4:15 PM. RAISING CANE’S 4345 UNIVERSITY WAY, SEATTLE *THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL MEET AND GREET. AUTOGRAPHS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED"

See you tomorrow, Seattle! pic.twitter.com/sTN2187Uho
— Raising Cane's (@raisingcanes) February 10, 2026

Darnold and Barkley aren't the only athletes to work a shift at the chicken joint as well. In fact, numerous players from recent championship teams have appeared at Raising Cane's, including the Dodgers' Will Smith (2025), the Celtics' Al Horford (2024) and UConn's Azzi Fudd (2025), among many others.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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