New Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla isn’t shutting the door on a possible move, and that alone is going to make Seattle fans uneasy.
“I will never say never,” Khosla told Dan Primack of Axios when asked about the franchise’s long-term future. “Will this team be in Seattle 500 years from now?
But I have no current plans to change anything about the team, including the coach, president, operation or Lumen Field. It all functions well.”
The bigger issue is not some far-off 500-year scenario. The Seahawks’ lease at Lumen Field runs out in 2032, which puts the stadium conversation much closer to the front of the line.
Khosla’s comments also fit the usual playbook of stadium leverage. When a team owner wants help paying for renovations or a new building, leaving the possibility of relocation hanging in the air can be useful. “Never say never” is the kind of line that can open the door to taxpayer money.
Khosla also sounds like a man still figuring out what he’s gotten himself into.
“Three months ago I wasn’t even thinking about buying an NFL team,” Khosla said. “Now I ended up with a Super Bowl-winning team with one of the most amazing fan bases.
But I know very little about running a team. I don’t think I’ll do anything but learn for a while.”
For Seahawks fans, that may be the most reassuring and unsettling part of all: the new owner says he’s here to learn, but he’s already sent a message that the future in Seattle is not something he’s willing to lock down.
In Other News...
Seahawks Have One Defensive Strength To Trust As Changes Loom
The Seahawks left Week 3 with more questions than answers on a defense that gave up 27 points to Washington and faded in the moments that mattered most. For all the issues in the back end and along the edge, the interior defensive line was one part of the unit that held up, with Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed and Byron Murphy providing at least a measure of stability in the middle.
That matters now because Mike Macdonald has already signaled changes are coming before Week 4, and Seattle needs to sort out which pieces can be trusted as the staff adjusts. The front inside gives the Seahawks a starting point, but the bigger challenge is turning one dependable strength into something the rest of the defense can build around. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Fans Are Headed For A Familiar Sam Darnold Fight
Sam Darnold is still holding the Seahawks starting quarterback job, even as the conversation around him has picked up again after his Week 3 interception was returned for a touchdown. The criticism has followed a familiar pattern for Seattle fans, because the discourse around the quarterback spot has a way of sharpening fast whenever there is a mistake, even when the overall performance tells a different story.
In that game, Darnold completed 31 of 45 passes for 379 yards and four touchdowns with a 105.7 quarterback rating, a line that shows why the Seahawks have kept him in place. Drew Lock, who started the first two games, remains the backup and has not voiced any dissatisfaction with his role, leaving the depth chart intact for now even as the outside noise continues. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Still Have A Pass Rush Question Worth Watching
Even with the season moving along, the Seahawks still have a pass-rush question worth watching as the trade market starts to come into focus. Several edge defenders have been floated as possible fits, and the appeal is easy to see: Seattle could use another disruptor off the edge, and the available names each come with a different mix of production, age, and contract status. Tuli Tuipulotu brings the intrigue of a former second-round pick who just posted 13 sacks, while Chase Chop is the younger bet after a six-sack season that suggests room to grow.
Matt Uche offers a more complicated profile, with an 11.5-sack peak in 2022 but a quieter stretch since then, and Jadeveon Clowney remains a familiar name now back with the Houston Texans on a $5.5 million contract. For Seattle, the question is not just who can help right away, but who is actually available and realistic enough to pry loose. The Seahawks have options to monitor, but the list also underscores how tricky it can be to find a proven edge rusher without overpaying for uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]