Listen to the article
The Seattle Seahawks are going up for sale following the wishes of late owner Paul Allen, the team’s estate announced Wednesday. This major development comes less than two weeks after the franchise secured its second Super Bowl victory.
The estate provided a brief statement indicating it has initiated the sales process, a move that aligns with Allen’s directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all proceeds to philanthropic causes. Neither the NFL nor Allen’s estate offered additional comments beyond the announcement.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently praised the Allen estate’s stewardship of the team. Speaking ahead of the Super Bowl, Goodell noted, “They’re in the Super Bowl, and I think from that standpoint they’ve done a really important job in the context of the trust and the execution of that. But eventually the team will need to be sold in accordance with that. That will be Jody’s decision for when she does that, and we will be supportive of that.”
Investment bank Allen & Company and law firm Latham & Watkins will lead the sale, which is expected to continue throughout the NFL offseason. Any final purchase agreement will require ratification by NFL owners.
The Seahawks have been under Allen family ownership since 1997, when Paul Allen, Microsoft’s co-founder, purchased the team for $194 million from Ken Behring. Allen’s intervention was crucial in keeping the franchise in Seattle, where it’s expected to remain after the sale. The team’s current lease at Lumen Field extends through 2032 with three additional 10-year options.
Following Allen’s death in 2018 from complications related to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, his sister Jody has overseen both the Seahawks and the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. The estate agreed to sell the Trail Blazers last September to an investment group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon in a deal that stipulates the basketball team will remain in Portland. That transaction is expected to be completed this spring.
The Seahawks sale will likely set financial records in the sports industry. For context, the most recent NFL team sale occurred in 2023, when Josh Harris led a group including Magic Johnson in purchasing the Washington Commanders from Dan Snyder for $6.05 billion—a record sum for an NFL franchise. Industry experts anticipate the Seahawks could command an even higher price given the team’s recent success and the NFL’s continued growth in valuation.
The announcement accelerates what has already been a transformative offseason for the Super Bowl champions. The Las Vegas Raiders recently hired away offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to be their head coach. In response, Seattle is reportedly moving to hire San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach and run game coordinator Brian Fleury as their new offensive coordinator, according to a source familiar with the hiring process.
Roster changes also loom on the horizon. Several key defensive starters—including safety Coby Bryant, cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen, and edge rusher Boye Mafe—will become unrestricted free agents this offseason. On offense, standouts like wide receiver/return specialist Rashid Shaheed and running back Kenneth Walker III (who earned Super Bowl MVP honors) will also hit the free agent market in March. Both Shaheed and Walker have publicly expressed their desire to return to Seattle next season.
The sale represents the end of an era for one of the NFL’s most successful franchises of the past quarter-century. Under Allen’s ownership, the Seahawks evolved from a struggling team to a perennial contender, reaching the playoffs 15 times since 2003 and appearing in three Super Bowls, winning two.
Should the sale conclude by this offseason as anticipated, it will mark the first time in nearly three decades that the Seahawks will operate under ownership outside the Allen family.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
19 Comments
This is a significant move by the Seahawks estate, and it will be interesting to see how the sale process unfolds. The team’s recent championship pedigree should make it an attractive target for prospective owners.
It will be crucial for the new owner to maintain the Seahawks’ competitive edge and continue the team’s winning tradition.
The quick turnaround from Super Bowl victory to team sale process is quite surprising. I wonder if the Seahawks’ performance will be impacted by the uncertainty surrounding the franchise’s future ownership.
It will be crucial for the estate and potential buyers to ensure a smooth transition that minimizes disruption to the team’s operations and on-field performance.
This is a significant development in the NFL landscape. The Seahawks are a marquee franchise, and their new owner will have a major influence on the league’s future.
The Seahawks’ sale announcement so soon after their Super Bowl victory is quite surprising. I wonder if this will impact the team’s ability to retain key players and coaching staff during the offseason.
It will be fascinating to see who emerges as potential buyers for the Seahawks franchise. The team’s recent championship success should make it an attractive acquisition target.
NFL Commissioner Goodell’s supportive comments suggest the league will be keen to find a suitable new owner who can maintain the Seahawks’ competitiveness.
The Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory must have been bittersweet, knowing the franchise would soon be on the market. I wonder how this will impact the team’s offseason plans and roster decisions.
It will be interesting to see if potential buyers try to maintain the Seahawks’ current coaching staff and core players or opt for a more dramatic overhaul.
The Seahawks’ sale comes at an interesting time, with the team just securing a Super Bowl victory. This could create uncertainty around the franchise’s direction, but it also presents an exciting opportunity for new ownership.
It will be crucial for the new owner to maintain the Seahawks’ competitive edge and build on the team’s recent success.
Interesting move by the Seahawks estate to begin the sale process so soon after winning the Super Bowl. Wonder what the rationale is behind this decision and if it will impact the team’s future performance.
The estate likely wants to fulfill Paul Allen’s directive to sell off his sports holdings and direct the proceeds to philanthropic causes.
The Seahawks’ sale process is an intriguing development in the NFL landscape. I’m curious to see how this unfolds and what it means for the team’s long-term future.
This is a pivotal moment for the Seahawks franchise. The new owner will have a significant influence on the team’s future direction and competitiveness within the NFL.
It will be crucial for the estate and potential buyers to ensure a seamless transition that preserves the Seahawks’ championship-caliber roster and coaching staff.
While the news of the Seahawks’ sale is surprising, it aligns with the late Paul Allen’s wishes. I’m curious to learn more about the team’s future direction under new ownership.
The Seahawks’ sale presents an exciting opportunity for new ownership to build on the team’s recent success and chart a new course for the franchise. I’m eager to see how this plays out.