Sam Darnold’s barely-believable California tax bill revealed in the wake of Seahawks’ Super Bowl win
Sam Darnold achieved the ultimate NFL dream on Sunday, but his Super Bowl victory has come with a staggering and unexpected financial price tag attached.
The Seattle Seahawks star quarterback led his team to a resounding 29–13 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Darnold completed his epic redemption arc against the very team that once made him ‘see ghosts,’ throwing for 202 yards and a touchdown in the historic victory.
But despite the glory of finally lifting the Lombardi Trophy, the veteran signal-caller is reportedly set to actually lose money on the big game itself.
California‘s notorious ‘jock tax’ laws mean Darnold will owe the state significantly more than the $178,000 league bonus he earned for the championship win.
According to financial reports from Sportico, the quarterback’s tax bill to the Golden State will reach a massive $249,000 following the Sunday night triumph.
Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl victory has come with a staggering and unexpected price tag
Despite the glory of finally lifting the Lombardi Trophy, the veteran signal-caller is reportedly set to actually lose money
The eye-watering sum is a result of aggressive taxes levied on professional athletes who work in the state temporarily but live elsewhere permanently.
This controversial tax is calculated based on ‘duty days’ – which is legally defined as any day an athlete performs services under their contract within California.
Online critics of the jock tax were enraged on behalf of the athletes, attacking the tax on principle.
‘The jock tax is just another grab by the high tax states who believe that anyone with $$$ should just fork it over the tax trough,’ wrote one X user.
‘So they basically played to subsidize a bankrupt state,’ posted another.
Darnold and the Seahawks touched down in Northern California on February 1, accumulating eight duty days by the time the final whistle blew.
The tax hit is even more brutal because Seattle played both the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams away earlier during this regular season.
Even the losing New England Patriots players will feel the financial pinch, facing tax hits on their significantly smaller $103,000 runner-up bonuses.
Darnold likely won’t mind the fee after a game where he managed the offense perfectly, completing 19 of 38 passes without a single turnover
However, Darnold likely won’t mind the fee after a game where he managed the offense perfectly, completing 19 of 38 passes without a single turnover.
The defining moment came in the fourth quarter when he connected with tight end AJ Barner for a crucial 16-yard touchdown to seal the game.
It was a steady performance that allowed running back Kenneth Walker III to shine, but Darnold made the critical plays when it mattered most against Drake Maye.
For superstars like Darnold – who is currently in the middle of a massive three-year, $105 million deal – the $71,000 net loss on the game check is manageable.
However, the tax applies to every single player on the 53-man roster, many of whom earn significantly less than the starting quarterback does per season.
The Seahawks are expected to face even higher tax bills in 2026, with even more games scheduled to be played in California during the next NFL season.
Ironically, the team’s home state of Washington is also reportedly considering its own version of the tax, meaning players could soon pay double the fees.
