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ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 04: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions is on the field before the start of their NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on January 4, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
A retired NFL star came closer than previously known to becoming part of the Seattle Seahawks’ record-setting ownership change.
Ndamukong Suh said he considered investing alongside the Khosla family during its purchase of the Seahawks, revealing that he had an opportunity to join the group that ultimately acquired the franchise for $9.612 billion.
Suh told Front Office Sports that he “looked at the Seahawks most recently and had an opportunity there, actually, with the winning group.”
The former defensive tackle said the fit came down to timing.
“Timing and being in the right position is everything,” Suh said.
The revelation adds a recognizable football name to the story surrounding Seattle’s new ownership structure.
Front Office Sports previously reported that an unidentified former Seahawks player also considered becoming involved with the Khosla group before the sale closed.
Suh Has an Investment Career After Football
GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 24: Ndamukong Suh #74 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up prior to a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Suh’s interest in buying into an NFL franchise suits the direction his career has taken away from the field following the 39-year-old’s officially retirement in July 2025 after 13 NFL seasons.
On the football side, he finished his playing career as a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl LV champion, via NFL.com’s retirement announcement. The former No. 2 overall pick recorded 71.5 sacks while appearing in 199 regular-season games.
Football also gave Suh considerable capital to work with, opening up his investment capability.
Spotrac lists his career earnings at more than $186 million, including the six-year, $114.375 million contract he signed with Miami in 2015.
So, since leaving the field, Suh has developed a portfolio that goes well past football.
Front Office Sports noted that he is co-founder and president of HMS Developments, a partner at Athletes in Real Estate, founder of Generals Restaurant Group and managing partner of House of Spears Management. He has also worked as an NFL analyst for Sky Sports.
That background makes his near-entry into Seahawks ownership more than a passing curiosity. Suh said he has explored other sports ownership opportunities, including the Portland Trail Blazers and Portland Thorns, but has yet to find the right deal.
The Seattle opportunity would have put Suh on the ownership side of a league where he existed for more than a decade as a prominent defensive star.
Seahawks’ New Ownership Group Came Together Around Record Sale
GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 09: Owner Vinod Khosla of the Seattle Seahawks looks on prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Lumen Field on September 09, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Khosla family’s purchase officially closed Sept. 3 after NFL owners unanimously approved the transaction Aug. 26.
The Seahawks announced Vinod Khosla as chair, Neeru Khosla as controlling owner and president of the Seahawks Charitable Foundation, and Neal Khosla as vice chair.
At $9.612 billion, the deal established an NFL franchise-sale record, surpassing Washington’s roughly $6.05 billion transaction in 2023, Reuters reported.
The Seahawks also announced a broad collection of co-owners, including Mark Stevens, Penny Pritzker, Carlyle, Dynasty Equity and Sixth Street.
Front Office Sports reported that the group drew investors from technology, artificial intelligence and private equity, with some members of the runner-up bidding group also joining the ownership structure.
Suh stayed on the outside, but his comments reveal how close he came to holding a financial stake in the league’s newest ownership group.
All in all, the intriguing Suh news is another wrinkle for the Seahawks in a transition that shattered the NFL’s sale record.
Duncan Day is a sports contributor for Heavy. He has covered NFL, NBA, hockey and soccer for various outlets, including NBC Sports, Boston.com, USA TODAY, Forbes, Bleacher Report, The Dallas Morning News and more. More about Duncan Day