The Seattle Seahawks are poised for a historic transition as ownership prepares to put the franchise up for sale following Super Bowl LX, sources involved in the process have confirmed.
The move would end years of speculation around when the organization would seek a new owner after the 2018 passing of former owner Paul G. Allen, co founder of Microsoft and a transformative figure in the franchise’s history.
Allen‘s estate has held the controlling interest in both the Seahawks and the NBA‘s Portland Trail Blazers since his death from cancer.
Related:
- Super Bowl 2026: Date, time, location, and everything to know
- Where to watch the Super Bowl 2026? TV channel and streaming
- Super Bowl Halftime Show 2026: Everything about Bad Bunny’s performance
- How much do tickets for the Super Bowl cost in 2026?
- Super Bowl Winners List: All teams that have won the Vince Lombardi
His sister, Jody Allen, has led the teams as the executor of his trust, operating under his directive that the teams eventually be sold to benefit charitable causes.
Will the Seahawks be put up for sale after Super Bowl 2026?
NFL policy generally restricts the extent to which estates can hold teams indefinitely, and the Seahawks are now past a milestone that would have triggered a mandatory sharing of sale proceeds with the state of Washington.
The anticipated sale could mark an unprecedented moment in professional sports history, with the franchise set to be sold off perhaps weeks after winning or losing the Super Bowl.
This only happened one other time, in 1991, when a partial stake in the Super Bowl champion New York Giants was purchased by Preston Robert Tisch.
Paul Allen originally purchased the franchise from then owner Ken Behring in the late 1990s, a deal that kept the team in Seattle amid relocation threats to southern California.
The legacy of that decision remains deeply woven into the city’s sports culture.
Mounting interest and rising valuations
Franchise valuations across major sports have accelerated in recent years, driven by lucrative media deals, global branding opportunities and sustained demand from wealthy investment groups.
According to Sportico, the Seahawks are valued at approximately $6.59 billion, ranking among the top tier of NFL franchises.
The last NFL team to change hands, the Washington Commanders, fetched a record $6.05 billion in 2023, led by businessman Josh Harris and partners.
It is believed the Seahawks could fetch $7 billion to $8 billion, according to senior NFL figures.
The Trail Blazers, the NBA sister franchise also owned by Allen‘s estate, are in the process of being sold to a group led by Tom Dundon for over $4 billion.
Dundon already owns the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL, and the acquisition expands his footprint in professional sports ownership.
Jody Allen‘s public commentary on the sales process has been limited, but her recent presence at Lumen Field resonated with fans and players alike.
During the NFC Championship game ceremonies, she spoke about the collective spirit of the Seahawks‘ fanbase.
“I’m incredibly proud to be standing here today and accepting this on behalf of all the 12s here, all the 12s across the country and all the 12s across the globe,” she declared from the field.
In 2022, Allen outlined her late brother’s intentions regarding the franchises.
“Given Paul‘s plans to dedicate the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropy,” her statement read, “estates of this size and complexity can take 10 to 20 years to wind down.”
Seahawks soar under Jody Allen
Under Jody Allen‘s stewardship, the franchise made a pivotal decision by moving on from long time coach Pete Carroll after the 2023 season.
That shift elevated general manager John Schneider into a more prominent role, pairing him with head coach Mike Macdonald.
Their leadership has guided the Seahawks to notable regular season success and now a fourth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
“The thing that sticks out to me about Jody was her enthusiasm about where she wanted our team to be and our franchise to be as a vision of the Seattle Seahawks,” Macdonald shared during a media session.
As the sale process begins in earnest, Seattle fans and prospective bidders alike will watch closely, recognizing that the next chapter of Seahawks history is about to unfold.
Ownership denies reports
The estate of late Seahawks owner Paul Allen, however, is denying the report, according to a statement released to The Associated Press and other outlets.
“We don’t comment on rumors or speculation, and the team is not for sale,” a club spokesman said in a statement on Friday. “We’ve already said that will change at some point per Paul’s wishes, but I have no news to share. Our focus right now is winning the Super Bowl and completing the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in the coming months.
In 2022, Jody Allen acknowledged the Seahawks would one day go up for sale, according to the wishes of her late brother.
Read the full article here
