The Seattle Seahawks are on the brink of making NFL history—both on and off the field. As the team prepares for a high-stakes Super Bowl LX clash against the New England Patriots on February 8, 2026, a whirlwind of speculation and anticipation surrounds the franchise's future ownership. Reports from ESPN and other major outlets have ignited a firestorm: multiple league and ownership sources claim the Seahawks will be put up for sale immediately following their Super Bowl appearance. If true, this would mark the first time in the Super Bowl era that a team playing in the championship game is put on the market so soon after the final whistle.
Yet, the story is far from straightforward. The Paul G. Allen Estate, which has controlled the Seahawks since the Microsoft co-founder’s death in 2018, has issued a firm denial. “We don’t comment on rumors or speculation, and the team is not for sale,” a spokesperson stated, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. “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.”
Despite this public pushback, the anticipation of a sale has been building for years. Paul Allen’s will specified that both the Seahawks and the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers should eventually be sold, with proceeds destined for charitable causes. After Allen’s passing, his sister Jody Allen took the helm as trustee, guiding both franchises through a period of transition and, for the Seahawks, renewed success on the gridiron.
Why now? The answer lies partly in the fine print. For years, a clause tied to public funding for Lumen Field, the Seahawks’ home stadium, stipulated that if the team were sold before mid-2024, 10% of the sale proceeds would be owed to the state of Washington. That date has now passed, clearing the way for a sale without the hefty penalty—a detail confirmed by both league sources and business analysts. The timing, as some observers note, is more than just coincidental.
Estimates for the franchise’s value are eye-popping. Executives and industry insiders peg the Seahawks’ potential sale price at between $7 billion and $8 billion—a figure that would shatter existing NFL records. For context, Paul Allen purchased the franchise in 1997 for approximately $194 million, a sum that seemed staggering at the time but now pales in comparison to today’s booming sports valuations. Recent sales, like the Washington Commanders’ $6.05 billion deal in 2023 and the Los Angeles Lakers’ $10 billion valuation for a majority stake last year, underscore the surging market for elite sports teams.
But the possible transfer of ownership has fans and insiders alike pondering what’s next for the Seahawks. The organization, under the Allen family’s stewardship, has earned a reputation for treating employees with respect and fostering a strong, community-oriented culture. “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,” head coach Mike Macdonald shared during media availability. “That was during our interview process. Honestly, that’s really where I was like, ‘OK, this is something I feel really strongly about that I feel like I could help create that.’ So everything, I think, has been through that lens. It’s very clear what type of team she wants, and she’s been incredibly supportive. ... She’s been awesome.”
Jody Allen herself has typically shunned the spotlight, but her commitment to her brother’s philanthropic vision has been unwavering. In a 2022 statement, she made it clear: “Neither of the teams is for sale and there are no sales discussions happening. A time will come when that changes given Paul’s plans to dedicate the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropy, but estates of this size and complexity can take 10 to 20 years to wind down. There is no pre-ordained timeline by which the teams must be sold. Until then, my focus — and that of our teams — is on winning.”
On the field, the Seahawks’ recent resurgence has been nothing short of remarkable. After moving on from legendary coach Pete Carroll following the 2023 season, John Schneider was promoted to lead football operations, and Mike Macdonald was brought in as head coach. The results speak for themselves: the Seahawks posted a franchise-best 14 regular-season wins, secured the NFC’s top seed, and bulldozed through the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams to earn their fourth Super Bowl berth. Lumen Field, already considered one of the league’s toughest venues, is undergoing nearly $20 million in upgrades ahead of the 2026 World Cup, cementing its status as a Pacific Northwest sports fortress.
Meanwhile, the Allen estate is also finalizing the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers. The NBA franchise, valued at over $4 billion, is being sold to a group led by Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. The simultaneous transition of both major sports properties underscores the immense scale and complexity of the Allen estate’s wind-down—one that, as Jody Allen has emphasized, could take years to fully resolve.
Still, the prospect of new ownership raises questions. Will the Seahawks’ unique culture—praised for its humanity and inclusivity—survive a shift to a potentially more corporate, profit-driven regime? Fans worry that a new group might prioritize business over community, a concern voiced by many around the league. The uncertainty is palpable, but so is the excitement. After all, how often does a Super Bowl contender hit the open market?
As the countdown to Super Bowl LX continues, all eyes remain fixed on the Seahawks—not just for their championship hopes, but for the seismic business move that could reshape the NFL landscape. Whether the sale happens immediately after the big game or is delayed by further estate deliberations, one thing is clear: the next chapter for Seattle football is about to be written, and it promises to be every bit as dramatic as the action on the field.
For now, the Seahawks’ focus is where it should be: on the Super Bowl and the chance to bring another Lombardi Trophy back to the Emerald City. But as soon as the confetti settles, the business of football may take center stage in Seattle like never before.