Seahawks expected to go up for sale after Super Bowl 2026 in stunner

The Seahawks might find themselves with a new owner come next season. 

Following Super Bowl 2026, Seattle is expected to put the franchise up for sale, ending years-long rumors about the team seeking new ownership after the death of former owner Paul Allen in 2018, ESPN reported on Friday. 

Discussions of the potential sale have been taking place at both ownership and league levels over the past week, sources told the outlet. 

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) celebrates his touchdown catch with teammates during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. AP

According to ESPN, buyers could purchase the franchise for upward of $7 billion to $8 billion, which would be an NFL record. 

Sportico values the Seahawks at $6.59 billion, the 14th-most valuable team in the NFL. 

Allen’s estate, however, disputed the ESPN report, saying there are no plans to sell the franchise in the near future. 

“We don’t comment on rumors or speculation, and the team is not for sale,” a spokesperson for the estate said in a statement, per NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. “We’ve already said that will change at some point per Paul’s wishes, but I have no news to share. 

In this Oct. 9, 2003 file photo, Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder for the dedication of the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. AP

“Our focus right now is winning the Super Bowl and completing the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in the coming months.” 

The Microsoft co-founder’s estate has owned and operated both the Seahawks and the NBA’s Trail Blazers since he died of cancer, with his sister, Jody Allen, controlling the teams as the executor of the trust. 

Jody Allen also has a directive from her late brother to sell both of the franchises and donate the proceeds to charity. 

If the Seahawks do go up for sale, they will be the first Super Bowl-bound team in history that will be entirely up for sale shortly after the big game, according to ESPN. 

The Giants were in a similar situation in 1991 following Super Bowl XXV, with Preston Robert Tisch purchasing 50 percent of the team.