The Seahawks arrived in the Bay Area on Feb. 1, meaning eight work days in California—including the Super Bowl Sunday—count toward the tax. Darnold earned $178,000 from the championship win, which translates to $71,000 in state taxes on top of the overall $249,000 bill.
Looking ahead, California tax implications aren’t limited to the 2024 season; they will apply again in 2026 when Seattle visits the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. The NFL schedule for 2026, however, features the Chargers hosting Seattle in Los Angeles, which the report notes reduces the Club’s California travel for that year.
Off the field, Darnold is under a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seahawks. The deal carries an average annual value of about $33.5 million, with 2026’s cap hit at $27.5 million and 2027 rising to $35.5 million.
Darnold’s journey to this peak includes a stint with the 49ers in 2023, when he earned $4.5 million on a one-year deal. Minnesota’s 2024 offer of $10 million was enough to lure him there, and his best season prior to Seattle came with the Vikings: 66.2% passing, 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, a 102.5 rating, and a 14-3 regular season record before playoff exits.
In 2025, Darnold stabilized the Seahawks with another 14-3 campaign and a No. 1 seed, finishing the playoffs with 672 passing yards, five touchdowns, and a 102.4 rating. Seattle’s readiness to extend him could make Darnold the second quarterback in franchise history to lift the Lombardi Trophy, as the team weighs next steps after a season that reinforced his value.
The report underscores that Seattle’s investment in Darnold is paying off on the field while introducing notable tax considerations, and it notes the potential for an extension as the franchise pursues continued consistency and title contention.
