Seahawks Owner Jody Allen Expected to Initiate Sale Process After Super Bowl

The late Paul Allen's estate plans to sell the NFL franchise, which could fetch a record-breaking price.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 12:07pm

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The Seahawks are expected to be put up for sale sometime after Super Bowl LX, according to reports. The team's current chair, Jody Allen, is set to initiate the sale process as per the wishes of her late brother, Paul Allen, who owned the franchise. The sale is part of the liquidation of Paul Allen's estate and the distribution of his wealth to philanthropic endeavors. The Seahawks could fetch a price of around $7-8 billion, which would set a new record for the sale of a professional sports franchise.

Why it matters

The sale of the Seahawks would mark a significant shift in the Seattle sports landscape, as the team has been under the ownership of Paul Allen since 1997. The timing of the sale, coming shortly after the Seahawks' return to the Super Bowl, will add an extra layer of intrigue and speculation around the future of the franchise and its impact on the city's other professional sports teams.

The details

The Seahawks' potential sale was first reported by ESPN, though the team and Paul Allen's estate have refuted some of the details. The estate stated that "the team is not for sale," but acknowledged that a sale would happen at some point. The timing of the sale, following the Super Bowl, makes sense as the Allen Estate has already agreed to sell the Portland Trail Blazers. The Seahawks' sale price is expected to be in the $7-8 billion range, which would set a new record for the largest sale of a professional sports franchise.

  • The Seahawks are expected to be put up for sale sometime after Super Bowl LX.
  • The Allen Estate agreed to the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers last summer.

The players

Jody Allen

The current chair of the Seahawks and the sister of late owner Paul Allen, who is expected to initiate the sale process for the team.

Paul Allen

The late owner of the Seahawks, who purchased the team in 1997 to keep it from being moved to Southern California.

Jeff Bezos

The founder of Amazon, who was heavily involved in the bidding for the Washington Commanders before they were sold to a different group.

Steve Ballmer

The owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, who is another potential buyer with the resources to purchase the Seahawks.

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What’s next

The sale of the Seahawks is expected to be a major storyline leading up to Super Bowl LX, with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell likely to be asked about the team's future ownership during his pre-Super Bowl news conference.

The takeaway

The potential sale of the Seahawks would mark the end of an era in Seattle sports, as the team has been under the ownership of Paul Allen since 1997. The record-breaking sale price could have significant implications for the city's other professional sports franchises and their valuations, as well as the potential for future expansion or relocation of teams to the Seattle market.