Seattle Seahawks Set for Historic $9.612 Billion Sale to Khosla Family

The Seattle Seahawks, the reigning Super Bowl champions, are set to become the most expensive franchise in NFL history after the Khosla family reached an agreement to purchase the team for $9.612 billion, according to a person familiar with the deal. The sale, which is still subject to approval by NFL owners, would shatter the league’s previous franchise sale record and mark a new milestone in the soaring value of professional sports teams.

The Seahawks confirmed on Saturday that an ownership group led by Silicon Valley billionaire Vinod Khosla has entered into a formal agreement to acquire the franchise from the estate of late Paul Allen, the Microsoft co-founder who purchased the team in 1997 for $194 million. Since Allen’s death in 2018, the Seahawks have been overseen by his sister, Jody Allen, in accordance with the family’s estate plans.

In a statement released after the announcement, Vinod Khosla said the family was honored to become the next custodians of the franchise and pledged to build on the winning culture established under Paul Allen’s ownership. Khosla is the founder of Khosla Ventures, one of Silicon Valley’s leading venture capital firms, and has invested in companies spanning artificial intelligence, biotechnology and robotics.

The proposed acquisition comes just months after the Seahawks captured their second Super Bowl title, defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 in February. The championship significantly boosted the franchise’s profile and commercial value, helping drive what is expected to become the largest sale of an NFL team.

Before the transaction can be completed, it must receive approval from at least three-quarters of NFL team owners, with a vote expected during league meetings in August. As part of league ownership rules, the Khosla family will also be required to divest its 3.1% minority stake in the San Francisco 49ers, eliminating any conflict of interest involving ownership of multiple NFL clubs.

The Seahawks are expected to remain in Seattle, with the franchise committed to Lumen Field, where it has a lease through 2032, along with options for further extensions. Team officials have emphasized that the sale will not affect the club’s long-term presence in the city, a key priority since Paul Allen rescued the franchise from potential relocation nearly three decades ago.

The record-breaking deal highlights the extraordinary growth in the value of professional sports franchises. The previous NFL record was set in 2023, when the Washington Commanders were sold for $6.05 billion. The Seahawks’ agreed valuation of $9.612 billion underscores the league’s continued financial strength, fueled by lucrative television rights, global marketing opportunities and increasing investor interest in elite sports properties.

If approved, the transaction will usher in a new era for one of the NFL’s most successful franchises. Seahawks supporters will now look to the Khosla family to preserve the championship-winning culture established under Paul Allen while continuing to invest in the team’s pursuit of sustained success on and off the field.