Getty Images
- Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen bought the Seahawks in 1997 for about US$200m
- Allen died in 2018 and left instructions to sell his sports holdings
- Sale could eclipse US$6.05bn sale of Washington Commanders in 2023
The Seattle Seahawks are officially up for sale, just ten days after winning their second Super Bowl.
The National Football League (NFL) franchise was acquired by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 1997 for approximately US$200 million from then-owner Ken Behring, a move that saved the team from a potential relocation to Southern California.
Allen passed away in 2018, four years after the Seahawks’ first Super Bowl triumph. Under the Allen family’s ownership, the franchise has also won four National Football Conference (NFC) championships and 11 division titles.
In a statement, Allen’s estate said launching a formal sale process is consistent with his directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct the proceeds to philanthropy.
Allen’s sister, Jody Allen (pictured above), has served as executor of the estate and chair of both the Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers. The National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise is currently in the process of being sold by the Allen estate to a group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon for around US$4.25 billion.
The Athletic reported last month that the Seahawks would be put up for sale following Super Bowl LX, though the exact timing was unclear.
Investment bank Allen & Company and law firm Latham & Watkins will lead the sales process, which is estimated to continue through the NFL offseason. League owners must then ratify a final purchase agreement.
Forbes’ latest estimates value the Seahawks at US$6.7 billion, ranking them as the 14th most valuable franchise in the NFL.
The most recent NFL franchise sale came in 2023 when the Washington Commanders were acquired by a group led by Josh Harris for US$6.05 billion – then a record for a sports team transaction. That figure was surpassed in 2025 by the NBA’s Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, which sold for US$6.1 billion and US$10 billion respectively.
The Allen estate still retains a minority stake in Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Seattle Sounders, which has yet to be sold.
Enjoying this content? We think you’ll be interested in our upcoming event, SportsPro New York.
Taking place at Marriott Marquis, Times Square on 12-13 March 2026, join the leaders shaping the business of sport, as we explore the forces transforming media, technology, and investment across North America.