Paul Allen estate proceeds with sale following Super Bowl appearance as franchise valued at $7-8 billion, potentially setting NFL record
The Seattle Seahawks are officially going up for sale. Following their Super Bowl LX appearance against the New England Patriots on February 8th, the Seahawks will enter the market, ending years of questions about when the franchise would seek new ownership. League and ownership sources familiar with the arrangement told ESPN that sale discussions have been taking place at ownership and league levels for at least the past week.
This is a historic moment for the franchise. The Seahawks are the first team in the Super Bowl era to go on the market shortly after playing in the championship game. They’re positioned to set a record for an NFL team sale price coming off a Super Bowl appearance and possibly a championship. One team executive told ESPN that the Seahawks could fetch $7 billion to $8 billion. The most recent NFL team sale was the Washington Commanders, which a group led by Josh Harris purchased in 2023 for $6.05 billion. The Seahawks’ valuation would shatter that record.
The sale has been anticipated for years. Paul Allen, the Microsoft co-founder and former owner, died in 2018 from complications of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. In his will, he left explicit instructions: eventually sell both the Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers and donate the proceeds to charity. His sister, Jody Allen, has controlled the teams as the executor of the trust, managing them with her brother’s philanthropic vision in mind.
For years, there was uncertainty about when the sale would happen. In July 2022, Jody Allen released a statement acknowledging that the teams would eventually be sold “given Paul’s plans to dedicate the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropy.” But she also noted that 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,” she said at the time. “Until then, my focus — and that of our teams — is on winning.”
That statement has proven accurate. Under Jody Allen’s stewardship, the Seahawks have made the playoffs in seven of the past 10 years. They’re currently hosting the Super Bowl. They have one of the NFL’s best general manager-head coach combinations in John Schneider and Mike Macdonald. The franchise has never stopped competing.
Now, the winning will continue but under new ownership. The Paul G. Allen estate released a statement Friday saying the organization doesn’t comment on rumors or speculation and that “the team is not for sale.” But the same statement acknowledged what’s coming: “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.”
When Timing and Value Align Perfectly
The timing of the sale announcement is strategic. The Seahawks have already passed the date whereby a sale would have triggered sharing 10% of the proceeds with the state of Washington. That’s a significant financial advantage for the estate. Additionally, by waiting until after the Super Bowl, the estate maximizes the franchise’s market value. A team that just played in and potentially won the Super Bowl commands premium pricing.
Sportico values the Seahawks at $6.59 billion, the 14th highest in the NFL. But that valuation was taken before the Super Bowl appearance. With a Super Bowl win, that number could jump significantly. One team executive suggested the franchise could sell for $7 billion to $8 billion, which would represent a franchise record for an NFL sale price coming off a Super Bowl appearance.
For context, the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers sold a majority stake in the team at a $10 billion valuation in June. The Seahawks’ potential price range puts them in rarified air for sports team valuations. The franchise has become valuable not just because of Paul Allen’s legacy and Seattle’s passionate fanbase, but because of its current competitive positioning.
The Franchise Jody Allen Built
The most significant decision Jody Allen made since assuming control was moving on from legendary coach Pete Carroll after the 2023 season. That move elevated John Schneider to the role of the team’s top decision-maker and allowed him to hire Mike Macdonald. Under Macdonald’s leadership, the Seahawks have posted 10-win and 14-win regular seasons and are now in their fourth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
Macdonald has praised Jody Allen’s leadership and vision. “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,” Macdonald said Friday. “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.”
The franchise Jody Allen is now selling is in far better shape than when she assumed control. It’s competitive, well-managed, and positioned in one of the best stadiums in the NFL. Lumen Field is receiving nearly $20 million in upgrades ahead of the 2026 World Cup, making it an even more attractive asset for potential buyers.
The Seahawks’ sale represents the end of an era for Seattle one defined by Paul Allen’s vision and Jody Allen’s stewardship. But it also represents the beginning of a new chapter, one where the franchise will be owned by someone else, carrying forward the legacy of one of sports’ most respected organizations.
