Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl Win Comes with a Tax Price Tag

Sam Darnold’s recent Super Bowl victory on Sunday has an unexpected downside: it will cost him money.

Thanks to California’s tax regulations, the quarterback will have to pay more than the $178,000 he earned after helping the Seahawks secure a 29-13 win over the Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Reportedly, following this latest success, Darnold’s tax bill will total about $249,000, as noted by Sportico.

The significant tax obligation stems from what is commonly referred to as California’s “jock tax.” This law requires professional athletes who do not reside in California to pay a share of their earnings based on the number of days they worked in the state.

These are called “work days.” After the Seahawks arrived in Northern California on February 1, Darnold logged eight work days during the team’s stay leading up to the game.

With more players likely joining the Seahawks for the upcoming season, they will again play in California.

It’s worth mentioning that Darnold, who is under a three-year contract worth $105 million, may wind up giving up around $71,000 due to this victory, according to Sportico.

However, judging by how he celebrated, he seems to feel it’s a price worth paying.