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Ownership
The Seahawks Won the Super Bowl and Still Can’t Start a Bidding War
The most valuable franchise on the market is also, apparently, the loneliest. ESPN reported Friday that interest in the Seahawks sale has been “soft” and the process “has dragged a bit.” Three sources told ESPN that the lack of updates at the spring owners meeting stood out compared to the Broncos and Commanders sales. The initial $11 billion fantasy has deflated to something closer to $9 billion, which would still set a record for an NFL franchise. Cold comfort.
~$9B
The revised expected sale price — down from early projections of $10–11 billion.
The buyer pool is thin. Wyc Grousbeck and Aditya Mittal submitted a letter of interest. Vinod Khosla, who currently owns a minority stake in the 49ers, is preparing a separate bid. Steve Apostolopoulos was mentioned as a potential candidate and then promptly told ESPN he is “not pursuing the Seahawks.” Zuckerberg and Cook were debunked weeks ago. That leaves maybe two real groups circling an asset that costs north of $2.7 billion just for the 30% down payment.
Part of the issue is structural. The Allen estate has to sell. Buyers know this. When you’re selling because the will says so and not because you want to, the leverage shifts. The Trail Blazers sold for $4.2 billion under the same mandate, well below comparable NBA franchises. The NBA’s expansion vote for Seattle adds another wrinkle: why pay $9 billion for a football team when you might be able to bring basketball back for less?
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The Seahawks won a Super Bowl and still can’t generate a bidding war. Turns out the one thing money can’t buy is more people with enough money to buy an NFL team.
NFL owners meet May 19 in Orlando. A summer special meeting could accelerate the timeline if a deal materializes, but the league is now bracing for the possibility of an unsettled ownership situation when the season opens in September. Schneider and Macdonald keep building regardless. The football doesn’t care who signs the checks.
SOURCES →
Edge Room
Fowler Signed the Deal. He Hasn’t Won the Job.
Keep Reading ↓
77.6
Fowler’s 2025 PFF grade — 21st out of 115 eligible edge defenders.
Field Gulls laid out the case this week: Seattle’s edge room is built on veterans with expiration dates. Lawrence turns 34 before kickoff and reportedly considered retiring. Nwosu carries the third-highest cap hit on the team and has battled injuries for years. Hall is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Fowler slots in as a rotational presence, not a savior.
The real intrigue is what happens behind them. Rylie Mills moved to DE on the depth chart. UDFA signings Devean Deal and Aidan Hubbard both play the edge. Macdonald built Baltimore’s pass rush using veteran plugs alongside young rotational pieces. Fowler is the plug. The developmental guys are the project. By August, the cameras will be rolling.
SOURCES →
AROUND THE COOP
Around the Coop
Dr. Bobby Wagner. The Seahawks legend received an honorary doctorate from Utah State at their commencement ceremony and immediately informed his family to update their phones. Utah State is retiring his No. 9 jersey. He’s still a free agent at 35. Heavy
Schedule drops Thursday. The full 2026 NFL schedule releases May 14 at 5 p.m. PT on NFL Network, ESPN2, and NFL+. Tickets go on sale immediately after. Wilbon already leaked the Bears as the Week 1 opponent. Four days. Seahawks.com
Owners head to Orlando. The NFL’s Spring League Meeting runs May 19–20 in Florida. The Seahawks sale will be on the agenda. If a deal crystallizes this summer, a special meeting could follow. If not, October is the next scheduled stop. NFL.com
Beau Stephens is already working both sides. The Day 3 guard pick is getting reps at left and right guard at the VMAC. Anthony Bradford’s competition just showed up and started doing homework on Day 1. SI on Seahawks
NFC WEST SCHADENFREUDE REPORT
RAMS
Stafford still hasn’t signed the extension that was supposedly ‘close’ three weeks ago. Rapoport said ‘significant progress’ has been made. The Rams tweeted a heart-eyes emoji when he showed up to voluntary workouts. Meanwhile, Turf Show Times is publishing articles arguing that Ty Simpson literally cannot start even if Stafford gets hurt, because the organizational imperative is to protect him from being ruined by early exposure. So the succession plan is: don’t use the succession plan. Stetson Bennett remains the emergency option. Sleep well, Rams fans.
NINERS
The 49ers are heading to Melbourne, Mexico City, and their regular home games, meaning they’ll play football on three continents in 2026. OC Klay Kubiak told reporters that Purdy needs to improve his pocket movement and decision-making, which is coach-speak for ‘he runs when he shouldn’t and misses open receivers downfield.’ The man missed half the season with turf toe and the coaching staff’s main offseason goal is teaching him to stand still. Inspiring stuff.
CARDINALS
Arizona told Brissett he’s the starter. Brissett responded by not showing up. He’s skipping voluntary workouts because he wants a raise from his $4.88 million salary, only $1.5 million of which is guaranteed. For context, the backup they signed off the street, Gardner Minshew, has $5.14 million guaranteed. The Cardinals are paying their QB2 more guaranteed money than their QB1. LaFleur called the situation ‘ongoing’ and noted the workouts are voluntary. The Brissett era begins the moment he decides to accept starter money for a starter job. No rush.
SEACHICKENS TRIVIA
Joe Nash signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1982 and played his entire 15-year career in Seattle, setting the franchise record for most games played. How many career sacks did Nash record as a Seahawk?
Tap to Reveal the Answer
47.5. Nash played 218 games as a nose tackle and defensive tackle, forming ‘The Die Hards’ alongside Jacob Green and Jeff Bryant before later playing next to Hall of Famer Cortez Kennedy.
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The schedule drops Thursday. The owners meet Monday. The sale drags on. Somewhere in Renton, Mike Macdonald is running a defensive install and couldn't care less who writes the checks. Go Hawks. — The Rooster