Sam Darnold’s family history has a wild twist: The Seattle Seahawks QB’s grandfather was an absolute legend

Sam Darnold has finally established himself as the most famous member of his family after guiding the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl LX, where they will face the New England Patriots in Santa Clara on February 8.

The Seahawks’ NFC Championship victory over the Los Angeles Rams marks another milestone in Darnold’s remarkable career turnaround, as he now chases his first Super Bowl ring.

From Jets struggles to Super Bowl contender

Drafted by the New York Jets in 2018, Darnold once seemed destined for a journeyman quarterback path after losing his starting role during stints with the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers. His renaissance began with a 14-3 season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, a performance he matched with the Seahawks this year.

Now, Darnold has the chance to become the first starting quarterback from the loaded 2018 draft class to win a Super Bowl. Just a few years ago, few would have imagined this opportunity for him.

A family legacy in sports and beyond

Darnold’s rise has made him one of the new faces of the NFL and arguably eclipsed the impressive achievements of his maternal grandfather, Dick Hammer (yes, that’s his actual name).

Hammer excelled in basketball and volleyball rather than football. As a college athlete, he played on USC’s Final Four basketball team in 1954, the last time the Trojans reached that stage of the NCAA tournament.

By 1964, Hammer had switched to volleyball and made the U.S. Olympic team for the Tokyo Summer Games, the first time volleyball was included as an Olympic sport. Despite winning their first two matches, Hammer’s team finished ninth out of 10 countries after a seven-match losing streak.

From the field to the screen

After his sporting career, Hammer, a firefighter by trade, turned to entertainment. In 1972, he played himself in nine episodes of NBC’s medical drama “Emergency!” He later became one of many actors to portray the Marlboro Man, appearing on billboards across California during the 1970s.

Hammer passed away from lung cancer in 1999, when Darnold was just two years old, never getting to see his grandson shine in the sport that would make him famous.

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