Report: Seahawks could have new owner by start of season

The Seattle Seahawks could have a new owner by time they kick off the NFL season on Sept. 9, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.

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During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, Rapoport said the market for the Seahawks is “robust in the way it is trending” and there could be a special meeting in August to approve new ownership of the team.

“Here’s my understanding on the potential sale of the Seahawks. The market, I’m told, has been robust in the way it is trending. Would not be surprised at all if there is a special meeting among NFL owners this coming August, could have a new Seahawks owner before the season,” Rapoport said. “If all goes perfectly well, (the sale) could eclipse $10 billion.”

"The market for the Seattle Seahawks has been robust..

We could have a new Seahawks owner before the season and the sale could eclipse ten billion dollars" ~ @RapSheet #PrimetimeSports pic.twitter.com/VFeSfZ9Upd

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 28, 2026

Rapoport did not address who the potential owner or ownership group could be.

Rapoport’s report comes nearly three weeks after ESPN’s Seth Wickersham reported the NFL had received less interest than expected for the sale of the defending Super Bowl champions, and there were doubts among owners and league executives the sale would fetch the $11 billion figure that was initially speculated upon when the franchise went up for sale in February.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell pushed back on reports about the underwhelming market for the team at the league’s spring meetings in Orlando last week, saying the situation was  “exactly the opposite” and there was “tremendous interest in the team.”

“So ever since Seth Wickersham reported the market was softer than they thought (it would be), things have really picked up steam,” Rapoport said. “New owner potentially coming soon for Seattle. ”

Paul Allen’s estate announced it was starting the formal sale process of the Seahawks on Feb. 18, 10 days after the franchise won its second Lombardi Trophy. The announcement came after Wickersham and ESPN Seahawks beat reporter Brady Henderson on Jan. 30 first reported the team would go on the market following the Super Bowl.

A sale of the Seahawks had been expected since Allen’s death at age 65 in 2018. He made it a directive for his trust to sell both the Seahawks and the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, with proceeds to be donated to philanthropic efforts. Allen’s estate has already sold the Trail Blazers to a group led by Tom Dundon, who also owns the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

The Seahawks have been operating under chair Jody Allen, who took control as the trustee of the Paul G. Allen Trust following her brother’s death.

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