Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold created a memorable moment for a young fan during pregame warmups. The interaction, which quickly went viral on social media, occurred as the team prepared for their Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots.
A video shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba approaching the fan to sign a football. As Smith-Njigba finished, Darnold appeared and also signed the ball, eliciting an ecstatic reaction from the young supporter.
Darnold, 29, is entering his ninth NFL season. He has a notable history against the Patriots, holding a regular-season record of 0-4 against them. In those matchups, he has thrown one touchdown pass and nine interceptions.
He was a first-round draft pick by the New York Jets in 2018. After facing challenges early in his career, Darnold experienced a comeback season with the Vikings in 2024, which led to his signing a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seahawks in 2025.
The Seahawks' Week 1 game against the Patriots marked the start of the new NFL season, with both teams looking to build on previous seasons. The Seahawks faced the Patriots in Super Bowl 60 last February.