The Seattle Seahawks have a new ownership group. NFL owners voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the sale of the franchise to the Khosla family, led by Vinod and Neeru Khosla, ending Jody Allen’s run atop the organization.
Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the vote at the league’s owners’ meeting in Atlanta, closing out a sale process that started earlier this year.
How the Khosla Family’s Purchase Came Together
The Khoslas reached a formal agreement with the Paul G. Allen Estate on July 11, paying a league-record $9.612 billion for the franchise. That price tops every previous NFL ownership sale.
The Allen estate had announced back on Feb. 18 that it was beginning a formal sale process for the team, fresh off Seattle’s second Super Bowl title in franchise history.
Vinod Khosla addressed reporters Wednesday alongside his wife, Neeru, and son Neal, both listed as co-owners. He called the timing remarkable, buying a team that had just won it all, and described the opportunity as a gift from the Allen trust.
Why the Sale Marks the End of an Era in Seattle
Paul Allen bought the Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million, purchasing the team from then-owner Ken Behring specifically to keep the franchise from relocating out of Seattle. Allen died in 2018 from complications tied to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and his sister Jody Allen has controlled the team since.
Goodell praised the incoming ownership group, saying he had confidence they would be strong stewards of both the franchise and its relationship with the Seattle community.
What Happens to Lumen Field and the Trail Blazers Sale
Seattle’s lease at Lumen Field runs through 2032, with three 10-year options attached. Khosla called the stadium a core part of the franchise’s identity and said the new ownership group intends to work with the city to preserve it, while acknowledging the sale still needs to formally close before those conversations move forward.
The Allen estate is handling a second major sports sale at the same time. It agreed last September to sell the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers to a group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, keeping that franchise in Portland pending NBA Board of Governors approval.
How This Compares to the League’s Last Ownership Sale
The Seahawks deal blows past the previous record for an NFL sale. Washington’s ownership group, led by Josh Harris and including Magic Johnson, paid $6.05 billion for the Commanders back in 2023, buying the team from longtime owner Dan Snyder and his family.
Seattle enters this transition on top of the league, having beaten the Patriots 29-13 in the Super Bowl this past February. Khosla put the mandate in simple terms, saying the goal now is keeping the winning streak alive and chasing another title.
