By JACK BEZANTS, US DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 14:19 EST, 18 February 2026 | Updated: 14:20 EST, 18 February 2026
The Seattle Seahawks have officially been put up for sale, with many anticipating that the Super Bowl champions could cost more than the $10billion paid for the Los Angeles Lakers last year.
The Seahawks have been in the Allen family since 1997, when Paul Allen bought the team for $194million from then-owner Ken Behring. But the co-founder of Microsoft died in 2018 from complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 65.
Allen's sister, Jody, has led the Seahawks and the NBA team he owned, the Portland Trail Blazers, since his death. But Allen left a directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all estate proceeds to philanthropy.
The Trail Blazers were sold last September to an investment group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon for around $4billion.
Before the recent Super Bowl success for the Seahawks, Sportico gave the franchise an estimated value of $6.59bn. But after winning February's Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, it is much harder to predict what they might sell for.
They have a lot in place to build on this success, with plenty of cap space for the 2026 season and promising young players who have time to improve.
The Seattle Seahawks are officially up for sale, days after winning the Super Bowl
Owner Jody Allen (left) took responsibility for the team after the death of her brother in 2018
NFL reporter Adam Schefter tweeted Wednesday that the deal 'is expected to set a new record for the price of a sports franchise.'
The last NFL team to be sold were the Washington Commanders. A group led by NBA great Magic Johnson and Josh Harris paid $6.05bn for the team in 2023.
The most expensive US sports team in history is the Lakers, who were sold last year by the Buss family to Mark Walker last June for around $10bn.
Jody has led the team in a quiet background role since taking on the responsibility from her brother.
Speaking before the Super Bowl, the eventual MVP running back Kenneth Walker said he hadn't ever seen her before.
Klint Kubiak, the team's offensive coordinator who has since joined the Las Vegas Raiders, said he hadn't dealt with her much and that it was mainly down to head coach Mike Macdonald to inform her of team news.
But she gave a speech on the field at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara earlier this month when the Seahawks lifted the Lombardi trophy, saying: 'It truly has been a magical season, from the very first game to tonight.
'I have to thank the organization... and of course the team, the players, we love you guys.'