Seahawks sold for reported record $9.612 billion to group led by 49ers limited partner Vinod Khosla

The Seattle Seahawks announced that the franchise has been sold and that ownership has changed hands.

Seattle announced that the team has been sold to an ownership group led by the Khosla family. This includes Vinod Khosla, a limited partner in the San Francisco 49ers.

The Khosla family released a statement through Vinod.

“We are honored to be entrusted as the next stewards of the Seattle Seahawks. We look forward to building on the winning legacy Paul Allen created and to earning the trust of the Seahawks organization and fans everywhere.”

The NFL sent a memo to teams about the sale.

“Following a thorough sales process run by Allen & Co., the Estate of Paul Allen has reached agreement to sell the Seattle Seahawks to the Khosla family and several limited partners, subject to membership review and approval. Allen & Co. reported very robust interest in the Club throughout the process, with the Khosla group emerging as the Club’s preferred buyer among multiple qualified bidders.

The Khosla family currently owns a limited partner interest in the San Francisco 49ers and would be required to divest that interest. The Khosla family includes Neeru Khosla, who would serve as the controlling owner, Vinod Khosla, and their son Neal Khosla. Neeru Khosal is an educator and entrepreneur. Vinod Khosla is a tech investor who co-founded Sun Microsystems and currently runs Khosla Ventures, which he founded.

Neal Khosla is the CEO of Curai, an AI healthcare company. Neal would be expected to have a significant leadership role in the ownership group. Allen & Co. has kept us informed throughout the process, and the Commissioner and League staff have had discussions with the Khosla family and its representatives.

We have also commenced both review of key transaction documents and customary due diligence on the prospective ownership group. As this work progresses, we will report to the Finance Committee, which will review the transaction in advance of the membership’s consideration.”

The team was reportedly sold for a record $9.612 billion, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Seth Wickersham. The sale is subject to NFL approval in the coming months.

This will be the first ownership change for the Seahawks since 1997, when the franchise was purchased by Paul Allen. After his death in 2018, the ownership of the team transferred to Allen’s estate and was managed by his sister Jody Allen.

When Allen died in 2018, he specified that he wanted his sports holdings sold, with the proceeds going toward philanthropic efforts.

It was first announced on February 18 of this year that the Paul Allen estate would look into selling the franchise, less than a month after the team beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

In January, reports emerged suggesting the Seahawks would be put up for sale after the Super Bowl. Allen's estate refuted those reports, saying the team was not for sale. 

The NFL took issue with that, reportedly fining the team $5 million for refusing to adhere to league rules.

The Seahawks hired Allen & Company, an investment bank, to help lead the sale process. Allen & Company was also hired by Allen's estate when it was looking to sell the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this year, and that deal came together after just a few months.

It was reported in May that the team had drawn much interest in a sale. Multiple sources, including an anonymous team owner and various other football executives, told ESPN that interest in the Seahawks was "soft."

"It's soft," a team owner said of the market for the Seahawks.

"There isn't as much action as there was with Denver and Washington," another executive said, referring to the most recent past two franchise sales.

Just two months later, the franchise has new owners. Seattle is coming off a Super Bowl win, will be featured on this year’s edition of “Hard Knocks” and will also open up the 2026 season against the Patriots on Wednesday, September 9.