NFL commissioner gives update on Seahawks sale
PHOENIX — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday at the league’s annual meeting that there are no new developments on the sale of the Seattle Seahawks but plenty of potential suitors in the team.
“There is no news to report,” Goodell said. “Since we last met they are officially for sale. They hired a bank and they are going to work with them and there is a great deal interest in that. That’s about all I know at this stage.”
The comments were the first Goodell has made about the future of the Seahawks franchise since the team announced on Feb. 18 that it is for sale.
“The Estate of Paul G. Allen today announced it has commenced a formal sale process for the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise, consistent with Allen’s directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all Estate proceeds to philanthropy,” the Paul Allen estate said in a statement that day.
In that same statement the team announced that “The Estate has selected investment bank Allen & Company and law firm Latham & Watkins to lead the sale process, which is estimated to continue through the 2026 offseason.”
While Goodell noted there is a great deal of interest in the team there have as yet been no reports surface of potential buyers.
Paul Allen brought the team in 1997 for $194 million. His sister Jody Allen took over as the trustee of his estate and became team chair of the Seahawks when Paul Allen died in Oct. 2018.
Reports have stated the Seahawks could fetch from $8 billion-$11 billion. The Washington Commanders hold the current record for the highest sale price when they were sold for $6.05 billion in 2023.
Allen’s estate finalized another big sale on Monday when the NBA Board of Governors approved the sale of controlling interest in the Portland Trail Blazers to a group led by investor Tom Dundon.
Reports have stated the sale is for $4 billion.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and general manager John Schneider have said in recent days that the team is operating as “business as usual” while the team is in the midst of being sold.
When he met with reporters here Monday, Macdonald pointed to the signing last week of receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a four-year contract extension worth more than $42 million a year and making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history and highest-paid player in team history as proof.
“I think you saw like through Jax’s extension where Jody is, where her priorities are,’’ Macdonald said. “So we’re operating like as normal business and it’s great so we can keep going and we can keep cementing our roster for years to come.”