The Seattle Seahawks will be available for purchase following Super Bowl LX, according to sources familiar with the situation. This decision concludes a prolonged period of speculation regarding new ownership after the death of former owner Paul G. Allen in 2018. Discussions about a potential sale have reportedly been ongoing at both ownership and league levels for at least the past week.
Since Allen’s passing, the Seahawks and the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers have been managed by his estate, overseen by his sister, Jody Allen. She has been acting as the executor of the trust, which includes a directive from her late brother to eventually sell both teams and donate the proceeds to charity. An NFL spokesperson declined to comment on the matter, while the Seahawks referred to Allen’s previous statements indicating that the team would eventually be sold.
The timing of the sale is noteworthy. If the Seahawks are officially listed for sale after their championship game against the New England Patriots on February 8, 2024, it would mark the first instance in the Super Bowl era where a team that participated in the championship game is put on the market shortly thereafter. Historically, Preston Robert Tisch acquired 50 percent of the champion New York Giants in February 1991.
Should the sale proceed, it could set a record for an NFL franchise, especially given the Seahawks’ recent success in the playoffs, having reached that stage seven times in the past decade. The team plays at Lumen Field, renowned for its challenging atmosphere, and is currently undergoing nearly $20 million in upgrades ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The franchise is supported by a highly regarded leadership team, including general manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald.
Valuations of sports teams have surged in recent years. According to Sportico, the Seahawks are valued at approximately $6.59 billion, making them the 14th-most valuable team in the NFL. The most recent NFL franchise sale was that of the Washington Commanders, which was acquired by a group headed by Josh Harris for a record $6.05 billion in 2023. Additionally, the majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers was sold for a valuation of $10 billion last June.
Some estimates suggest that the Seahawks could command a sale price between $7 billion and $8 billion. Meanwhile, the process of selling the Blazers is already underway, with a group led by Tom Dundon negotiating to purchase the team for over $4 billion. Dundon is also the owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.
Jody Allen has typically avoided media engagements since taking over the team’s management. Her first public comments came at Lumen Field after the Seahawks received the NFC Championship trophy, where she expressed pride in representing the team’s fans, known as the “12s.” In a statement released in July 2022, she acknowledged that while neither the Blazers nor the Seahawks were for sale at that time, they would be sold eventually, aligning with her brother’s philanthropic vision.
She noted, “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.”
A significant decision made under her control was the departure of legendary coach Pete Carroll following the 2023 season, which elevated Schneider’s role as the team’s top decision-maker. Schneider then hired Macdonald, who has guided the Seahawks to impressive regular seasons and now their fourth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
Reflecting on Jody Allen’s vision, Macdonald stated, “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.” He emphasized her support in driving the team’s aspirations forward, underscoring her commitment to the Seahawks’ future as they move closer to potential ownership changes.
