Sam Darnold has supported children battling cancer through the Jessie Rees and Baller Dream Foundations(Image via Gety Images)
In 2024, he also joined former Minnesota Vikings teammate Garrett Bradbury to raise money for the Baller Dream Foundation. By the 2025 NFL season, Darnold had supported the foundation through My Cause My Cleats for eight seasons. The Minnesota Vikings reported the initiative on September 25, 2024.
Then they do a lot of great things to help raise money for the cause as well,” Darnold said. “He’s an incredible person and he really touched my heart with his story and how he battled, and how NEGU really helped him get through some really, really tough times battling cancer,” Darnold said in the same interview. “We did a camp with them, and a bunch of kids came out and they got to catch touchdowns from us,” Darnold said.
Sam Darnold’s support for children battling cancer started in high school and has continued throughout his NFL career. The Seattle Seahawks quarterback has backed the Jessie Rees Foundation for eight seasons through the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative. “It’s a foundation for children fighting cancer and they just try to spread joy for these kids that are fighting cancer. The initiative allows players to wear custom cleats representing causes they care about. Darnold offered a golf experience at El Niguel in Southern California, while Bradbury offered one at Silverleaf Country Club in Arizona. People could bid for the outings through online auctions, with the money raised going to the foundation. “