By Chalien Dantes

Just days after lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the Seattle Seahawks are now at the centre of a major business move. The NFL franchise has officially been placed on the market, barely 10 days after claiming a second Super Bowl title, beating out the New England Patriots.

Talk of a potential sale had already been circulating in the lead-up to Super Bowl 60, and the news quickly gained traction once Seattle secured the championship.

The franchise was purchased in 1997 by Paul G Allen, who stepped in at a time when the team risked relocation to Southern California. Under his watch, Seattle captured its first Super Bowl title in 2014. Allen died in 2018 at age 65 from complications related to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

On Wednesday, Allen’s estate confirmed that a formal sale process is now underway, following his directive that his sports holdings eventually be sold and the proceeds directed toward philanthropic causes.

Financially, the potential deal could be enormous. Forbes reports Allen paid $194 million for the team, while its latest valuation stands at $6.7 billion, placing it among the NFL’s most valuable franchises. The benchmark for recent sales was set in 2023 when the Washington Commanders were sold for $6.05 billion to a group led by Josh Harris. That figure was later eclipsed by the record-setting $10 billion purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025.

Allen’s portfolio also included the Portland Trail Blazers, which are already in the process of being sold. Jody Allen, Paul Allen’s sister and executor of his estate, has been overseeing both franchises since his passing.

To manage the Seahawks sale, the Allen estate has brought in investment bank Allen & Company, along with law firm Latham & Watkins, to guide the process.