Roger Goodell Denies Seattle Seahawks Were Fined $5M Over Ownership Rules

Amid swirling reports that the Seattle Seahawks were hit with a $5 million fine by the Roger Goodell-led National Football League, Commissioner Goodell delivered a clear and direct response: the fine never happened. Speaking at the NFL’s annual pre-Super Bowl press conference, Goodell pushed back against claims that the Seahawks were penalized for league ownership rules violations.

Where the $5M Fine Story Began

The controversy started after a Wall Street Journal report claimed the NFL fined the Seahawks $5 million because their ownership structure was not aligned with league bylaws. According to that report, the league allegedly pressured owner Jody Allen to sell the team since the franchise was held in a trust, the Paul G. Allen Trust, after the death of the late Microsoft co-founder in 2018.

Goodell’s Direct Denial and Clarification

At his pre-Super Bowl LX media session, Commissioner Goodell was asked about the widely circulated fine report. According to multiple verified accounts:

The commissioner also emphasized respect for the Allen family’s management of the franchise.

Goodell said the report that the Seahawks were fined $5 million is “not true.”

He reiterated that no such fine was issued by the NFL.