Seahawks ownership change expected by September under Paul Allen estate terms

The Seattle Seahawks are expected to have a new owner in place by September, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The timeline is linked to the terms of late founder Paul Allen’s estate, which requires that the franchise be sold to the highest bidder. No prospective buyer has been identified publicly, and there has been no official announcement of a sales process.

The same person said the ownership change could be completed in time for the start of the 2026 NFL season. Under that scenario, the new owner’s first game as the franchise’s controlling owner would come when Seattle hosts the New England Patriots in the 2026 season opener on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. Any transaction would still be subject to the league’s approval process.

Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft, bought the Seahawks in 1997. During his ownership, Seattle won its first Super Bowl, capturing the title in the 2013 season.

Estate mandate and what it does — and doesn’t — confirm

The expectation of a near-term sale has circulated alongside the estate’s long-standing mandate to sell the team. The reporting leaves the timeline as an expectation rather than confirmation that a deal is in progress, and it remains unclear who would lead any potential bid.

Because there has been no public announcement of a process, key details such as the structure of any sale, whether a formal auction has begun, and the identity of potential ownership groups have not been disclosed. As a result, the situation should be treated as a developing ownership outlook, not a finalized transaction.

NFL approval and why the price matters to other owners

As with any NFL franchise sale, other owners would be required to vote to approve a new controlling owner. The person said existing owners have a financial incentive to see a high valuation for Seattle, because each deal helps reset the market for the next one.

A record or near-record sale price can become a benchmark in subsequent negotiations across the league. In practical terms, a strong final price for the Seahawks would shape both the outcome of any bidding and the way other franchises are valued.

In the weeks ahead, the main points to watch will be whether a formal sales process is acknowledged publicly and whether any credible bidders emerge, ahead of any potential September timeline.