A claim that NFL star Sam Darnold, quarterback of 2026 Super Bowl champions the Seattle Seahawks, owed more in California state taxes than he earned by winning the big game circulated online in mid-February 2026. According to the NFL, Darnold signed a three-year contract with the Seahawks in 2025, valued at $100.5 million. Esiason broke it down as such:For winning the Super Bowl, the winning team, each player gets $178,000. In other words, the Super Bowl isn't a part of their salary… So each spends seven days in the state of California. Therefore, the $249,000 Darnold allegedly owes California was not just for the Super Bowl itself, but every working visit made to California during the season.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 19, 2026 14:46 UTC