The Seattle Seahawks are officially heading for the market-just not until after Super Bowl LX. According to reports, the franchise will be up for sale following the big game, marking a major shift for one of the NFL’s most stable organizations over the past two decades.
This move has been in the works for a while, even if it wasn’t always front and center. After longtime owner Paul Allen passed away in 2018, control of the team transferred to his sister, Jody Allen, who has served as the trustee of the Paul G.
Allen Trust. Her role wasn’t just to manage the team-it came with a clear directive: eventually sell both the Seahawks and the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, with the proceeds going to charity.
So why now? Timing, as always, is everything.
By waiting until this point, the trust has avoided a clause that would’ve required the team to share 10 percent of the sale with the state of Washington. That window has now closed, clearing the way for a full sale without that financial obligation.
As for what the Seahawks might fetch on the open market? The current valuation sits somewhere between $6 and $7 billion.
But that might just be the floor. One league executive told ESPN the final number could climb as high as $8 billion-reflecting the rising tide of NFL franchise values and the premium placed on teams with strong brands, loyal fanbases, and modern stadiums.
Naturally, the rumor mill is already spinning. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has long been floated as a potential NFL owner, and the Seahawks-based in his company’s backyard-seem like a natural fit.
But so far, he’s stayed on the sidelines, even when other high-profile teams like the Washington Commanders were available. Whether that changes this time around remains to be seen.
What’s clear is that the Seahawks are entering a new era. With a sale on the horizon and a massive price tag attached, the next ownership group will inherit not just a valuable asset, but a passionate fanbase and a team with a proud history. The next chapter in Seattle football is about to be written-and the league will be watching closely.