Sam Darnold has been in the news not only for his recent signing with the Minnesota Vikings but also for his interesting personal life. The quarterback signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings in March 2024, attracting a lot of attention from fans curious about his dating history as many are eager to learn about his romantic life.
Born on June 5, 1997, in Dana Point, California, Darnold had a successful football career in high school at San Clemente High School before playing at the University of Southern California (USC). The New York Jets drafted him third into the NFL in 2018, and he has played for several teams, including the San Francisco 49ers, before joining the Vikings. Throughout this journey, his love life has sparked public interest, especially regarding his past relationships.
Currently, Sam Darnold is reported to be single. Despite some rumors, he has not confirmed that he is dating anyone. His most well-known past relationship was with Claire Kirksey. They were first spotted together in 2017 when both were students at USC.
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Their relationship caught the attention of fans, especially when Claire publicly supported him on social media. She once posted, “Can’t wait to be cheering this stud on for another great season ✌?#proudgf #fighton,” showing her pride in him.
Their relationship faced challenges and ended a few years later. Claire has since moved on and is now in a long-term relationship with her fiancé, Liam McCloskey, an Auburn swimmer. Even after they split, people saw Darnold and Claire together at events, and he even met her parents. Known for being quiet and reserved, Darnold surprised Claire’s family, as she noted, “They thought they’d scared him.” ‘And I’m like, ‘No, that’s just him,’” describing his calm nature.
Sam Darnold’s Rumored Relationships
After his relationship with Claire, several women, including Katie Hoofnagle, have linked themselves to Darnold. However, there has been no confirmation of a romantic relationship; their interactions seem to be friendly rather than romantic. Another name that surfaced was Coral Silverberg, an NFL agent, but again, no one has confirmed an official relationship.
Darnold is currently focusing on his football career. He has expressed his dedication, saying, “This opportunity doesn’t come around all that often, so you have really got to take advantage of it. I think that’s kind of been the storyline throughout my whole football career is just taking advantage of opportunities when they are given to me.”
In the ongoing 2024-2025 NFL season, Darnold has achieved a completion percentage of 67.2% and thrown for 1,610 passing yards, with 14 touchdown passes. He averages 8.5 yards per pass and boasts a quarterback rating of 107.2. Over the course of seven games, he has also recorded 106 rushing yards, with no rushing touchdowns, and has thrown five interceptions.
