The Seattle Seahawks are expected to be put up for sale after Super Bowl LX, according to ESPN, which cited league and ownership sources familiar with the plan. Since the death of former owner Paul G. Allen in 2018, the franchise’s ownership future has remained an open question for Seahawks fans and the broader NFL.
Sources told ESPN that sale discussions have taken place at both the league and ownership levels for at least the past week.
The Seahawks and the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers have been owned by Allen’s estate since the Microsoft co-founder died from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His sister, Jody Allen, has overseen both teams as executor of the trust, following Paul Allen’s directive that they eventually be sold, with proceeds donated to charity.
The NFL declined to comment on the report. A spokesperson for the Paul G. Allen estate said the organization does not comment on rumors or speculation and reiterated that “the team is not for sale.”
“We’ve already said that will change at some point per Paul’s wishes, but I have no news to share,” the spokesperson said. “Our focus right now is winning the Super Bowl and completing the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in the coming months.”
Paul Allen purchased the Seahawks from Ken Behring in 1996, with the deal finalized in 1997, saving the team from a potential move to Southern California. If sold again, the franchise could set a record for an NFL sale price, particularly following a Super Bowl appearance or championship. One team executive told ESPN the Seahawks could be valued between $7 billion and $8 billion.
In a 2022 statement, Allen said the teams would eventually be sold “given Paul’s plans to dedicate the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropy,” while noting that estates of this size can take 10 to 20 years to wind down and that there is no set timeline for a sale. The Seahawks are now past the date at which a sale would have required sharing 10% of the proceeds with the state of Washington.
The Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots for Super Bowl LX on February 8 in Santa Clara, California. We will share any updates regarding the team going up for sale.