Seahawks' record sale marks the end of a successful era

Seattle Seahawks players celebrate with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Seahawks' record sale marks the end of a successful era

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Aug 26, 2026 5:01 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

It's not often a Super Bowl champion changes ownership ahead of the season following the big win, but that's exactly what's happened with the Seattle Seahawks.

On Wednesday, NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Seahawks from the Paul Allen estate to Vinod Khosla, currently a limited partner with the rival San Francisco 49ers.

This sale has been in the works for a while

A long time coming, and even in the works during the Seahawks' convincing 29-13 Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots, the record-breaking $9.612 billion sale took place during a one-day league-wide meeting at the Atlanta Airport Marriott.

Most expected this sale to go through unanimously

The sale only needed approval from 24 of the 32 owners, but received an expected thumbs-up across the board.

Khosla will now have to surrender his minority share in the 49ers as part of the deal for him to become the majority owner of another NFC West franchise.

NFL owners officially approved today the record $9.6 billion sale of the Seattle Seahawks to the Khosla family. pic.twitter.com/9j5NHUknVq
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 26, 2026

It's the end of an era for the Seahawks

Ending an era for the Seahawks, Allen's ownership officially comes to an end with this sale. Allen owned the Seahawks from 1997 until he died in 2018, after which the franchise was controlled by his estate.

Allen purchased the Seahawks from Ken Behring, who had attempted to relocate to Los Angeles a year prior, ensuring the team would remain in Seattle. During the Allen era, including the past eight years following his death, the Seahawks enjoyed their most successful collective stretch ever.

Seattle won 10 division titles, four NFC conference crowns, reached Super Bowls XL, XLVIII and XLIX, and then rode off into the sunset by bringing the Lombardi back to Seattle for the second time on Feb. 8.

The Seahawks never appeared in a Super Bowl before Allen's ownership.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

More must-reads: