Sam Darnold is swapping shoulder pads for an apron!
The 28-year-old Seattle Seahawks quarterback celebrated his first Super Bowl victory in the most on-brand way possible on Tuesday afternoon (February 10) — which was clocking in for a special “shift” at Raising Cane’s soon-to-be -open Seattle location.
Before the restaurant officially opens its doors on February 17, Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves welcomed Darnold inside for a fan-filled celebration that felt less like a brand activation and more like a full-circle moment. More than 1,000 fans packed the Emerald City storefront, chanting “HAWKS! HAWKS!” as their quarterback stepped behind the counter to serve Chicken Fingers, bag Box Combos and thank the city that stood behind him all season.
But amid the cheers and celebration, Darnold took time to thank Seattle and exclusively reveal to Celeb Secrets and other reporters how the city as well as his teammates shaped him into the best version of himself this season.
“Seattle is a very hardworking community, a hardworking city — very blue collar it seems like,” Darnold told Celeb Secrets reporter Juliet Schroder among other media outlets that participated in the session on Tuesday. “And that’s the way I was raised. My dad’s a plumber. My mom was a middle school PE teacher for close to 30 years. So that’s how I grew up.”
For a quarterback whose NFL journey has included public highs, difficult transitions and years of scrutiny, the alignment with Seattle’s identity feels intentional.
“I can really resonate with the hard work that people live to do in this city,” he continued. “You can tell by the way they cheer for us — they care so much about our team and everything that we stand for. We try to put our best foot forward and put the best product out there on the field for the fans. And I’m just glad that we got to live up to it this year.”
In a season that ended with confetti falling in Santa Clara, it wasn’t just about statistics, it was about belonging. And Seattle embraced him fully.
Speaking of Super Bowl LX, the Seahawks’ 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots was so dominant. Seattle’s defense set the tone early, sacking quarterback Drake Maye six times and forcing three takeaways. Uchenna Nwosu’s electrifying 45-yard pick-six — sparked by a thunderous Devon Witherspoon hit — shifted momentum decisively. Another forced fumble by Derick Hall set up Seattle’s lone offensive touchdown, a poised Sam Darnold pass to AJ Barner.
Kicker Jason Myers added a Super Bowl-record five field goals to keep the scoreboard firmly in Seattle’s control.
The win capped a 14-3 regular season, an NFC West title and playoff victories over the 49ers and Rams. For Darnold, it marked the ultimate redemption chapter in a career once defined by questions.
When asked what he would say to people who feel counted out in their own lives, his answer reflected the perspective that carried him through.
“I’ve dealt with a lot, whether it’s in football and in life,” he said to reporters. “Having great friends and great family to have my back definitely helps. But everyone’s going through something. Realizing that and having that perspective has always been huge for me.”
Then, in true Darnold fashion, he grounded it all. “Life could always be worse. I get to play quarterback in the NFL. It’s such a blessing to be able to do this. I just wake up every day excited to go to work,” he continued.
During his time at Cane’s, the USC alum received training under Graves himself to learn how to make hand-battered, cooked-to-order Chicken Fingers, prepare Cane’s signature sauce, bag orders and call out Box Combos. He greeted fans, snapped selfies, signed autographs and filmed social content alongside the brand’s team.
“It’s been fun. Being able to go to Disneyland — I’ve always dreamt of doing that. Being able to come here to Raising Cane’s with all of you guys, the fans… it’s been great,” he said of the days following the championship. “But the best thing has been spending time with my teammates after that win and talking about all the hard work we put in and how it came to fruition.”
“It was great having Sam here at our first Seattle Restaurant to celebrate the Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX win. I can’t think of a better way to introduce Cane’s to Seattle and celebrate such a monumental moment for this city than with Sam and more than 1,000 cheering fans,” echoed Graves. “The energy today has been electric. Sam is an incredible athlete with a great story and his journey in the NFL is inspiring to so many. It was great spending time with him and showing him the ropes here at Cane’s – he’s a natural!”
As the event wrapped, Darnold stepped outside with Graves to thank the crowd personally. When the chants grew louder, the gratitude felt mutual.
“Thank you for the support. That’s all you can ask for as a player — to feel supported,” Darnold said.
For more on Sam Darnold’s big win and “shift” at Raising Cane’s, make sure to watch our full interview below, and don’t forget to let us know if you’re hyped about the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX victory by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
For more coverage from Super Bowl LX, click here.
