SANTA CLARA: What a night for football and what a night for one of our own! Andrew Janocko, Clearfield native and quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks, helped guide Seattle to a Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots, bringing home Lombardi Trophy glory and adding champion to his long resume in the NFL.

This isn’t just another coaching résumé boost — for folks back home here in Clearfield and across central Pennsylvania, it’s a deeply personal moment. Andrew’s story is one that stems from Thursday night lights, family tradition, and years of proving himself at every level of the game.

A Football Life Born And Bred In Clearfield

Andrew grew up in Clearfield, Pennsylvania — literally playing football almost before he could walk. His father, Tim Janocko, was the football coach at Clearfield Area High School for decades, and football in the Janocko house was more than a hobby: it was family culture.

Andrew became the starting quarterback for the Clearfield Bison, right where his dad coached. He wasn’t just there — he led. He was the guy directing the offense, calling plays, and absorbing everything about the game. Under his leadership, Clearfield won multiple district championships, and Andrew earned recognition as one of the top players in Pennsylvania. Young athletes around town remember him not just for his arm, but for the way he carried the team, studied the game, and embodied a small-town tenacity that would follow him through college and into coaching.

Growing up in a house where the game was dissected at the dinner table wasn’t unusual. It was tradition. His father’s influence — someone who coached in our area for nearly 40 years — gave Andrew an early masterclass in not just plays and schemes, but leadership, accountability, and work ethic.

From Pitt Walk-On To NFL Coach

After high school, Andrew took his talents to the University of Pittsburgh. He walked on as a quarterback — the type of player who could easily have been overlooked — but through grit and commitment, he earned a scholarship and stayed central to Pitt’s offense, even if not always the headline name.

When his playing career ended, Andrew immediately transitioned into coaching — starting humbly as a graduate assistant. Over the years, he worked his way up through a long list of positions: offensive assistant roles with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coaching quarterbacks at Mercyhurst University in Erie, and multiple stops with the Minnesota Vikings where he gained experience coaching everything from offensive line to wide receivers and, eventually, quarterbacks.

He’s worn many hats in football — a trait that has made him not just a coach, but a teacher, someone who understands the offense from every angle. That breadth of experience is part of what clubs valued and why he kept getting opportunities at the highest level.

Before landing in Seattle, Andrew also served as quarterbacks coach with the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints, taking on some of the league’s most challenging jobs and helping quarterback play improve across multiple teams.

What He Does In Seattle — And Why It Matters

Andrew joined the Seattle Seahawks in early 2025 as their quarterbacks coach, the coach who works closest with the most important position on the field. The role of an NFL quarterbacks coach is intense and detailed:

• breaking down opponent defenses every week
• crafting game plans tailored to what defenses are trying to take away
• working with the quarterback on mechanics, reads, footwork, and confidence
• helping develop timing between the QB and the rest of the offense
• handling pressure situations on third down, goal line, and clock management

It’s a job that blends X’s and O’s with psychology — and this season, it paid off in the biggest way: Super Bowl success.

This year’s Seahawks offense wasn’t a runaway scoring machine every week, but it was consistently smart and disciplined. And that element — an offense that doesn’t beat itself, that makes plays when they count — is a lot of the kind of football Andrew has always preached.

Their quarterback this season, Sam Darnold, has had a rougher road than most. Drafted with big expectations, he bounced around a bit early in his career and didn’t enjoy consistent success under other staffs. But under Seattle’s coaching — with Janocko’s steady voice in his ear week after week — Darnold found his rhythm, confidence, and ultimately led the Seahawks to their championship.

That kind of turnaround — from skepticism and inconsistency to Super Bowl winner — speaks volumes about the work done behind the scenes, between coach and player.

A Hometown Moment

For Clearfield residents and anyone who grew up watching Andrew at Bison Stadium, this is more than a coaching achievement. It’s validation of a journey rooted in local tradition, family influence, and relentless determination.

From Clearfield Area High School to the biggest football stage in the world, Andrew’s path is the kind of story that local kids can point to and say, “Yeah — that started right here.” His footwork once perfected on muddy practice fields, his early playbook lessons shared with teammates after school, and his passion rooted deep in community support — all played a role in this moment.

Super Bowl champion. Those words now tag his name forever — and Clearfield couldn’t be more proud.