ESPN report hints at potential Seahawks sale valuation

The Seattle Seahawks are expected to be sold for “slightly above $9 billion,” according to a report from ESPN senior writer Seth Wickersham on Friday morning.

That would easily set a new record for the sales price of an NFL franchise, surpassing the $6.05 billion the Washington Commanders were sold for in 2023.

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However, Wickersham reported there are doubts among NFL owners and executives that the Seahawks’ sale could eclipse $10 billion, as some sports business insiders have speculated. The Los Angeles Lakers were sold at a $10 billion valuation last summer, which is the record for a pro sports franchise.

Wickersham’s report came a day after several potential bidders for the Seahawks emerged.

On Thursday morning, Sportico reported that Indian steel titan and Boston Celtics investor Aditya Mittal, along with former Celtics control owner Wyc Grousbeck, are preparing a bid to buy the Seahawks.

Sportico then reported a few hours later that Vinod Khosla, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems and a recent investor in the San Francisco 49ers, also is preparing a bid to purchase the Seahawks.

Mittal, Grousbeck and Khosla appear to be the first legitimately reported names to emerge as potential Seahawks bidders.

Last week, Front Office Sports initially reported that Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Apple’s Tim Cook were each considering making bids to buy the team. However, that report was later denied by both parties, according to Bloomberg.

The estate of Paul Allen announced in February that it was putting the Seahawks up for sale, less than two weeks after the team won its second Super Bowl title. A sale of the Seahawks has been expected since the 2018 death of Allen, who 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.

A sale of the Trail Blazers for $4 billion to a group led by investor Tom Dundon was recently approved by the NBA.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• Brock: An undrafted Seattle Seahawks rookie to watch
• 49ers investor prepping bid to buy Seattle Seahawks, per report
• Report: 2 names emerge as potential Seattle Seahawks bidders
• Bump: Sam Darnold can be even better for Seattle Seahawks in ’26
• Insider surprised, not worried Seahawks haven’t extended Witherspoon

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