Seattle Seahawks Up for Sale After Paul Allen's Death

The Super Bowl champion team will be sold per the late owner's wishes.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The estate of the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and former owner of the Seattle Seahawks, has announced that the NFL team is up for sale. The sales process will be led by investment bank Allen & Company and law firm Latham & Watkins, with the goal of completing the sale by the end of the offseason. The Seahawks have been owned by the Allen family since 1997, when Paul Allen purchased the team for $194 million.

Why it matters

The sale of the Seahawks marks the end of an era for the franchise, which has been a fixture in the Seattle sports landscape for over two decades. Paul Allen's passing in 2018 led to the team being transferred to his sister, Jody Allen, who has now decided to sell the team per her brother's directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct the proceeds to philanthropy.

The details

The Seahawks are coming off their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history, making the team an attractive acquisition for potential buyers. The sales process is expected to continue through the offseason, with NFL owners needing to ratify the final purchase agreement. The Seahawks have been owned by the Allen family since 1997, when Paul Allen purchased the team for $194 million.

  • Paul Allen purchased the Seahawks in 1997.
  • Paul Allen passed away in 2018 from complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • The estate announced the sale process on February 18, 2026.

The players

Paul Allen

The co-founder of Microsoft and former owner of the Seattle Seahawks, who passed away in 2018.

Jody Allen

The sister of Paul Allen and the current owner of the Seattle Seahawks.

Ken Behring

The previous owner of the Seattle Seahawks, who sold the team to Paul Allen in 1997.

Tom Dundon

The owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, who is leading an investment group that has agreed to purchase the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers from the Allen estate.

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What’s next

The sales process is expected to continue through the offseason, with NFL owners needing to ratify the final purchase agreement.

The takeaway

The sale of the Seattle Seahawks marks the end of an era for the franchise, as the team has been owned by the Allen family since 1997. The sale is in line with Paul Allen's directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct the proceeds to philanthropy.