The Louisiana-based chicken finger chain announced Darnold would serve a select number of fans a week before the location opens.
SEATTLE — Fresh off the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX victory, quarterback Sam Darnold is trading his jersey for an apron Tuesday afternoon, working a celebratory shift at the first Raising Cane’s location in Seattle.
Darnold is set to appear at the University District restaurant at 4345 University Way NE from 3 to 4:15 p.m., serving chicken fingers to select fans and addressing attendees ahead of the location’s Feb. 17 grand opening.
The Louisiana-based chicken finger chain is celebrating the Seahawks’ championship win over the New England Patriots in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday with a promotional event featuring the team’s starting quarterback.
The University District location marks Raising Cane’s first entry into the Seattle market and its third restaurant in Washington state. The company previously opened locations in Vancouver in 2024 and Spokane in 2025.
More than 100 workers have been hired for the new Seattle restaurant, which will serve the University of Washington community and surrounding neighborhoods.
Raising Cane’s has been expanding steadily across Western Washington as part of a broader Pacific Northwest push. Additional planned locations include Lynnwood, Covington and Silverdale, with the company also exploring sites in Burlington and Federal Way.
The company, founded in 1996 by Todd Graves, operates more than 800 locations nationwide and plans to open nearly 100 new restaurants this year. The chain specializes in chicken finger meals served with its signature Cane’s Sauce, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw and Texas toast.
The Seattle location will officially open to the public Feb. 17.